Prices of coconut oil are surging in Asia, where top consumer India leads the charge with a tripling in two years, as supply shortages and booming demand for the nutrient-rich water enclosed within the fruit turn the kitchen staple into a premium product.
The edible oil is slipping out of the reach of price-conscious consumers, and those accustomed to its distinctive flavor, deeply embedded in regional cuisine, must search harder to find alternatives.
¡°I will switch to the more affordable refined sunflower oil for everyday cooking and save coconut oil for dishes where its flavor is absolutely irreplaceable,¡± said Leelamma Cherian, who lives in India¡¯s southern state of Kerala.
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