Fiji: Coconut oil making

In Fijian villages, they still cook on open fires and utilize kitchens much as you see here. In kitchens like this, boys and girls are taught to make coconut oil. Young boys gather and husk the coconuts and crack them open. Girls make the oil. Gardenias and other sweet-smelling flowers are added to give the oil its fragrance.

Coconut oil is like liquid gold in Fiji and is used as a moisturizer for skin and hair, to soothe insect bites, and for healing burns. Fijians do not use coconut oil for cooking, however. For this, they use coconut milk.

The Fiji village sells freshly made coconut oil. If you are interested, or want to know more about coconut oil, please ask any villager and they will gladly help you.