Remember our grandparents/parents telling us about how they used to go to the store with an empty can to purchase chekku ennai? In South India, chekku ennai was a way of life until 50 years ago. “Chekku ennai” is the local name for cold pressed sesame oil.
Cold pressed oils produced using low-heat methods are superior in quality compared to regular oils and are healthy alternative to cooking oils. Our ancestors primarily consumed cold pressed oils until about 50 years ago, when large-scale manufacturers of refined oils took over the market. Known to be cholesterol free, these oils are unrefined or unprocessed, free from harmful solvent residues and contain natural antioxidants that are beneficial for the body.
Cold pressed oils are one of Ayurveda’s best secrets. If stored in clay utensils, chekku oil lasts for almost a year. Chekku oil is traditionally supplemented with palm sugar or jaggery, which heightens its flavor and also its nutritional value. Benefits of cold-pressed oils to your heart health and internal well-being are many , these oils can also be a healthier and safer source of nourishment
Cold pressing method is the process involving crushing seeds or nuts and forcing out the oil through pressure.
In olden times, a long cylindrical contraption known as 'ghani' was used to extract oil from oilseeds. Ghani is a long cylindrical chamber made from wood, with a pestle in the centre. Oil seeds are poured in the ghani and are gradually crushed by the rotating pestle till most of the oil comes out through the opening at the base. .
This was the simplest method for cold pressing oils out of a seed as it didn't involve generating too much heat.
Rich in vitamin E and having anti-inflammatory and healing properties. They are also rich sources of oleic acid that help boost your immune system. They are not only good for a healthy heart and your well-being, but they are also a healthier and safer source of nourishment for your skin.
You can use them on top of salads and breads for a combination of flavour and health.
At Shastha Foods we have a wide range of cold pressed oils that has been made with the same “Wooden pressed” method of extracting oil in its purest form thus maintaining its goodness. These include Sesame Chekku Oil, Peanut Chekku Oil and Coconut Chekku Oil.
Sesame Chekku Oil: Used for oil pulling, swishing or gargling it assists with strong and white teeth and gum. This oil is used as a carrier oil or base oil for preparation of herbal oils in Ayurveda.In Ayurveda sesame seed oil is used for Shirodhara, Abhyanga and Head Massages.
Peanut Chekku Oil: Wonderfully pleasant, sweet-flavored peanut oil is low in saturated fats, free from cholesterol, contains essential fatty acid. It has deep yellow color with a pleasant nutty aroma and sweet taste as compared to refined oil with light-yellow color and neutral taste.
Coconut Chekku Oil:The purest form of coconut oil is with water white colour and contains natural vitamin E that suggests that the oil has been subjected to less intense refining, lower temperature and no chemicals and thats why it makes the most amazing multi-tasker in your vanity dresser. Known as Gandusha, it is a fantastic oral detoxification procedure that’s simply done by swishing a tablespoon of pure coconut oil in your mouth for 10- 20 minutes that removes bacteria and promotes healthy teeth and gums.
Order online from https://shasthaonline.com/collections/oil