Essentially Goa

You’ve come to Goa and your adrenaline is pumping. You have so much energy and seeing the tall coconut trees and clear blue skies makes you even more pumped up. DAY 1 Use all your excitement to start your first day with a trek! If you were in awe of Goa’s natural beauty from the get-go, be prepared to fall even more in love. There are a plethora of organizers who take you to gorgeous places like the famous Dudhsagar waterfalls or some more hidden places that most tourists haven’t even heard of.  The sights of the green foliage, chirping birds, and fresh air will surely make your heart sing. There are high chances that a delicious local lunch is part of your tour package. After you come back and rest, head out in the evening to a beach. If you’re tired, relax on the warm sand and relish the scenery. Otherwise, draw out your thirst for adventure again and try out exciting watersports. Parasailing gives the most thrills as you’ll get to glide in the air and watch the frothy waves below. If you are in North Goa, have a delicious local dinner at Florentine’s where there is a […]

Every year on 3rd December, people flock to Old Goa for the feast of St Francis Xavier- the patron saint of Goa.  He was a God-fearing man who spread the Gospel and served the sick and poor. He is dotingly hailed as ‘Goencho Saib’ as his life story inspires people even today. His relics are in the Basilica of Bom Jesus. This year, the theme of the feast is to live life according to the Beatitudes which Jesus gave in the Sermon on the Mount. Living according to the beatitudes means always longing to know more about God, being merciful, bringing peace wherever you go, etc.  ‘Like St Francis Xavier, let us live the Beatitudes and be Holy’- those at the feast were taught that it’s not enough to just follow certain religious duties, but you have to have a loving relationship with God and obey His commandments.  There were masses in Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, French, Italian, Portuguese, Marathi, Telugu, and Spanish. The feast fair was buzzing with activity and sold items like sweets, accessories, toys, etc. The St Francis Xavier 2018 feast also had a 3D stage which made the people feel like they were in an indoor cathedral […]

The Menezes Braganza house is located at the Chandor village in Goa. It is known to be more than 350 years old and is situated near the church square in Chandor. This mansion is the most exquisite heritage house in Goa and also has a Portuguese-style facade. It is a museum of chandeliers, paintings, porcelain, crystal and other antique items. Luis Menezes Braganza was a luminary. He used the power of his pen to spark the anti-colonialist movement in Goa and was referred to by people as “the Tilak of Goa”. Luis Menezes Braganza along with another reputed Goan writer, Professor Messias Gomes, established the first Portuguese language daily in Goa. Rare porcelain from Macao brought by the English and Dutch East India Companies beautifies the walls, and two thick porcelain vases that belonged to St. Francis Xavier are kept on the table in the dining room. The floors change from room to room: the visitors’ salon has Portuguese tiles, the library Flemish wood, and the ballroom Italian marble. There are crystal chandeliers from Belgium that illuminate the ballroom when lighted up. The ballroom is fashioned after Louis XIV’s Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles and a set […]

Pão- Keeping alive the legacy of the Portuguese The existence of bread in Goa The Goan bread is one of the delicacies that everyone craves for. The bread is an integral part of the Goan eating habit, be it for breakfast, for evening tea or for some occasion in the house the bread is always seen on the buffet table. Earlier the people living in Goa had a diet which comprised of roti, chapatti, idli, sambhar, a diet quite similar to that of South India. When the Portuguese invaded the coasts of Goa they brought with them various types of dishes ranging from sweet to savory delicacies. The Portuguese also brought in bread which was called pao. Earlier method of baking Pao The first Goan pao were quite unique. They were prepared by using local toddy, locally known as sur, as a source of natural yeast. This gave the bread a distinctive character that is quite impossible to replicate with any other kind of yeast. This mixture was then left for fermentation for 2-3 hrs. The pao is baked in wood-fired mud ovens, locally known as forn. According to Peter Fernandes, the proprietor of Dalima Bakers at Colva stated that […]

With a deep understanding of agriculture and a desire to bring locally grown marigold flowers to the Goan community, Amona-based farmer Krishna Sinari has embarked on the high-tech venture of marigold farming. RAMANDEEP KAUR | NT  Inspired by the need for locally grown marigold flowers, Krishna Sinari, the owner of Prakriti Farm Products, has started a high-tech venture of marigold farming in a 3,000-square-meter plot. With a total of 5,000 plants, his farm boasts vibrant yellow and orange marigold flowers. The inspiration behind choosing marigold flowers as the primary crop stems, he says, is that even though Goa has a suitable environment for its growth, a majority of the flowers are brought in from other places. “Marigolds are essential for Diwali celebrations. So I chose to start my own marigold production to meet the local demand,” says Sinari, who holds a diploma in agriculture and has done various courses to enhance his knowledge in the field. Currently enjoying his first marigold harvest, the next crop of flowers will be during Diwali and later for Tulsi Vivah. After that, he will move on to the next crop. Sinari has previously cultivated hybrid chillies and lady fingers and plans to explore other […]

The word terracotta comes from the Italian word “baked earth”. In Goa, there are various local artists who ply the trade of making terracotta artifacts. These artists take on various projects handed to them by various hotels across Goa. They are also available at Aparant Goan Handicrafts Emporium (opposite Institute Menezes Braganza Hall). Terracotta is a craft that can bring about beautiful sculptures of various sizes- small enough to sit on your table or large enough to be the main attraction somewhere. It takes a lot of effort and precision. The object has to be baked and can even take almost a full day to get ready. They usually have an earthy reddish-brown colour. A lot of things can be made through this craft- statues, lampshades, figurines, pots, home decor, and more. Click here to know more about the people who make terracotta items.  SHERYL GONSALVES | NT GOGOANOW Pic Credit – Shivang Mishra I NT GOGOANOW

It’s no secret that Goa is one of the top destinations for couples. Whether you want to experience a dreamy romantic trip, have an exciting vacation with your significant other, or find a place to propose – Goa has it all. The way to his/ her heart… This beautiful state offers quiet dinners with dim lighting, meals with a sunset view, or lunches with live music. In North Goa, some good options are Old Bombay, Black Sheep Bistro, Awadh House, Sea, Sublime, Angry Sardar Courtyard, Base, La Plage, Indian curry house, House of Lloyds, etc. If you’re in South Goa, feast at places like Riverside, Soul Souffle, The Fisherman’s Wharf, and The Garden. If you want a unique eating experience, dine in the dark at Alila Diwa or go for sky dining in Anjuna.   Spoil yourselves Tired from touring? Have a relaxing day at a spa. Cheron spa, Sereno Spa, Zaara Spa, Jiva Spa, Spa by Clarins, and Quan spa are good options. Some spas offer experiences for couples.   Romantic beach walks and sunsets The quieter, less crowded beaches are mostly in South Goa. Some of these are Galgibag beach, Butterfly beach, Kakolem beach, Bogmalo Beach, and more. […]

We have all heard about the famous Goan fish thalis, prawn curries, sorpotel, chicken cafreal, and vindaloo. Now it’s time to celebrate the sweets of Goa. The people of Goa still make traditional sweets from recipes passed down from generation to generation. Here are some of the famous traditional sweets of Goa: Bebinca This is a type of layered pudding. The ingredients which usually go into it are all-purpose flour, eggs, sugar, coconut milk, nutmeg, and ghee.  It takes time to prepare this lovely dessert as each layer has to be baked first before adding the next one. Bebinca usually has 7 to 16 layers. In many places, it is served with vanilla ice-cream. You can eat all the layers at once or peel one layer at a time and savour each one. Dodol Dodol is made using coarsely ground raw paddy rice flour, black jaggery, coconut milk, and cashew nuts. The coconut is ground and the juice/ milk is extracted. It is traditionally cooked on firewood.  The end result is a pudding-like sweet which almost melts in your mouth. It is mostly made for Christmas. Sugar isn’t used and so dodol gets its taste from the delicious Goa jaggery. Its […]

Franco Fernandes In a quiet village of Goa, Camurlim, lives Franco Fernandes, a self-taught practitioner of coconut shell craft. He won awards like 1st & 2nd place for Best Handicraft and 2nd place for the State Art Exhibition. He even fabricated coconut shell accessories for Wendell Rodricks, the fashion designer. Franco takes private orders. He makes items like coconut bottles, lampshades, bangles, rings, necklaces, pendants, paper knives and hair clips. It makes one amazed at how useful a simple coconut can be. He says, “It is my hobby turned into a profession.” Part of the process of coconut shell craft is taking out the husk, cleaning it, and shaping it by hand or other cutting tools. Sometimes he modifies the cutting tools to get the shape he desires. His future plan is to start working with coconut wood. SHERYL GONSALVES | NT GOGOANOW Pics Credit – Shivang Mishra I NT GOGOANOW

The procession of saints, also known as ‘Santachem Pursanv’ or ‘Ordem Terceria’ will be held at St Andrews Church at Goa Velha on March 19, the 5th Monday of the lent season. There will be a Eucharistic celebration at 4.30 p.m. which will be followed by the procession. Since this event is held during the lent season, it is actually referred as a ‘Penitential procession’. This is only of its kind procession in the world which is carried out with life size idols of the saints. The procession was also observed in the Portuguese colony of Bahia de Todos os Santos in Brazil, but was later banned. Though there were 65 statues when the procession was first started their number has been reduced to 31 now as some of them got damaged due to disuse after Queen Maria II of Portugal along with Portuguese ruler, Marquis of Pombal, banished all religious decrees from Portuguese colonies in 1835. The procession was thereafter revived in the late 19th century. The procession of saints is led by a frame carrying the ‘Veil of Veronica’. The 1st charol that comes out of the church is the ‘Tau cross’, the insignia of the Franciscan order, […]

Goan cooking generally involves liberal amounts of spices giving dishes a delightful taste and distinctive aroma. Particular combinations of spices have led to a number of styles of cooking, which have differing flavors; masala, vindaloo and balchao being some of the most famous. Chillies, particularly the dried red variety, are used widely to add pungency, flavour, and texture, and to marinate meats and fish. The green variety is also used to make chutneys, and pickles. They give a kick and taste to vegetables, meats and fish. The Christians prefer to use vinegar, while the Hindus use ‘kokum’ and tamarind to get the tang in their respective cuisines. Another important product of the palm is jaggery, a dark colored sweetener that is widely used in preparing Goan sweetmeats. Jaggery made from sugarcane is also used which has got a lighter colour compared to the coconut palm one. The spice plantations of Goa are quite popular as tourist attractions. For more details click on – Spice Plantations The various spices found in the Goan markets (Local Markets) or any General stores around you are; Fennel (Badisep)  Asafetida (Hing) Cardamom (Veichi) Cumin (Jirem) Pepper (Mirem) Mustard seeds (Sasvam) Cinnamon (Dalchini) Clove (Lovang)  Coriander […]

Old Goa is a small town in the North Goa district. Portugal-styled churches are famous for their architecture and impeccable history behind them. Old Goa, best known for its churches, is the perfect place to be for the traveller who wants to drown himself in the beautiful Portugal architecture of Goa. NT GoGoaNow gives you a sneak peek into some places you should visit when in Old Goa! …. …. …. Basilica of Bom Jesus As you enter Old Goa, you’re definitely going to see the monumental Basilica of Bom Jesus. The church was consecrated in May 1605 by Fr. Alexia de Menezes, the Archbishop of Goa. The church is a magnificent example of Baroque architecture in Goa. The church is well known as it embodies the relics of St. Francis Xavier, who lays to rest in a silver casket within the church. The relics are taken down every 10 years for an exposition which calls forth millions of devotees. The architectural monument comes under the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. …. Se Cathedral  The Sé Cathedral de Santa Catarina, known as Se Cathedral, in short, is known to be the largest church in Asia. The majestic church stands strong before […]

Vinegar in Goa is prepared from the toddy (sur) which is extracted from the coconut tree. The toddy is usually collected into an earthen vessel by the toddy taper. In order to get the product of vinegar from the toddy, the extracted toddy is kept in the vessel for a period of 20-22 days, where the toddy turns into vinegar. At times the period of 20-22 days is not sufficient for the toddy to turn into vinegar, in-fact this period of storage depends on the quality of toddy. In case of an ordinary quality of toddy, the storage period may sometimes last for 3 months. Vinegar is normally used as a preservative or a catalyst that adds flavor to various meat oriented dishes such as, pork sausages, pork vindhalo, various beef dishes, chicken cafreal and others. It is also used to prepare the ‘rechado’ massala which is stuffed in fishes like mackerel and pomfret.

Though Goa is the smallest state in India, it has made a quite telling contribution on the historical front of the country. Goa has been known for its ports through the ages, which facilitated trading. The state’s ports became handy not only traders but also rulers like the Mauryas, the Shatavahanas, Bhojas, the Shilaharas, the Kadambas, the Bahmanis and the Portuguese. The ruling stints of these dynasties allowed them to create some monumental edifices on this piece of land, of which some still exist and some have been lost to the time. In what can be said to be an honor for Goans, as the entire zone of Old Goa (The Churches and Convents of Old Goa) was inducted into UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) World Heritage Site, inscribed under the UNESCO norms, in 1986. The Catholic faith in Goa was built on the pillars of St Francis Xavier who embraced the land of Goa in 1542 and in order to profess the Catholic faith the Portuguese built the churches. Goa was thus termed as the ‘Rome of the East’. The inclusion of religious monuments in Goa in the World Heritage List are: the influence of […]

At a particular time of the year, rain clouds roll overhead and water the land of Goa heralding the monsoon season. As beautiful as this season is, some ingredients and other things aren’t available at that time. Many locals of Goa start collecting twigs, wood, and coconut shells, and carry it home to use as firewood before the rains hit. Sheryl Gonsalves | NT GoGoaNow Here are some other ways Goans deal with the rainy season:- – Chillies: Drying red chillies (Kashmiri, musureo, Moira chillies) in the sun and storing them. – Coriander seeds/ jeera/ turmeric: Mix salt and water in a vessel. Put the coriander seeds in that water and mix well. Take it out from the water and leave it in the sun to dry. You can do the same with jeera (cumin) and whole haldi. This is to avoid insects from attacking it during the moist rainy weather. – Dry seafood: Goans store dry fish and dry prawns as there may be fish scarcity during the monsoons. – Pulses: They dry pulses like beans (vousane) and small white beans (meerulio) in the sun. – Tamarind: Remove the tamarind seeds and discard, apply salt, and pound a little […]

Neeta Bhat Goa, a coastal region, boasts of its shell craft.  Neeta is one such person who practices this beautiful craft. He ingeniously incorporates shells into various household items like flower vases, table lamps, hanging balls, shell mirrors, and showpieces. Since Neeta is registered at the Handicraft emporium, their branches sell his products. Additionally, private shops from Mapusa & Panaji buy his items. He believes in keeping a low-profit margin of only 20%. The price range for his products are approximately between Rs.17 to Rs.290.” In the future, he intends to dabble in making necklaces out of raw material like sari borders.  The gentle-natured Neeta says this about shell craft, “ Of course I enjoy it!.” Maya Shetkar  The down-to-earth person- Maya Shetkar uses simple seashells which she buys from the market to create beautiful pieces of art. At a young age of 16, Maya’s neighbour taught her this craft and over the years she has put her own creative input into seashells crafting. She makes showpieces, table lamps, curtains, flower pots, mirror work, shell flower bouquets, and earrings. Maya’s items are available at Goa Handicraft showrooms.  She also sells her work at exhibitions. Her prices start at Rs.50. She admits […]

During monsoons, nightlife events and watersports activities are less. However, the rains make Goa more magical. There is a lot more greenery and the air feels fresher. People can visit local restaurants to enjoy hot samosas and kappas with tea while listening to the sound of the rain hitting the earth. Those who are adventurous can go for whitewater rafting or trekking. The monsoons are a great time to visit majestic waterfalls like Dudhsagar, Netravali, Amboli, Kesarval spring, Tambdi Surla, and Harvalem waterfall. For the people who are disappointed with the lack of watersport activities, there is no need to worry. You can try out flyboarding, catamaran sailing, kayaking, speed boating, banana rides, etc.  One can also explore the quieter places of Goa. One of them is Fontainhas – a Latin quarter which has heritage Portuguese houses, narrow streets, and colourful architecture. Other than this place there are many tranquil islands to visit that are full of natural beauty and cultural treats. Some of them are Divar Island, Chorao Island, San Jacinto Island, Butterfly Island, and Conco Island. In some of these places, you can rent a bicycle and tour these beautiful places. If you want to stay indoors and […]

The annual feast of Our Lady of Milagres (Our Lady of Miracles) was celebrated at St Jerome’s Church, Mapusa, on April 16; the feast is celebrated on Monday following the third week of Easter. The feast portrays the communal nature of the state wherein a Hindu’s along with other devotes throng to St. Jerome’s church to venerate and seek the blessings of Milagres Saibinn. ‘Milagres Saibinn’ is also believed to cure various ailments and many devotees from different religious communities make vows, pour coconut oil over the statue of our Lady of Milagres and offer wax figurines in repayment of favors received by them. Pic Credit – Shivang Mishra I NT GOGOANOW.COM

Kokum is one of the star ingredients in Goa after coconuts. It has a distinctive sour flavour with a hint of sweet and is used in many dishes of this beautiful state. It is available in markets fresh or sundried. Goans love sipping from a glass filled with cold kokum juice or using kokum to add a sour note to their food. It can be used in pickles and gravies. The local markets of Goa will have fresh Kokum during the summer. If you’re not here for the summer, you can always go for dried kokum.   Health benefits –         Can boost intestine health –         Decreases appetite and can help in weight loss –         Decreases inflammation –         Has cooling properties –         Boosts heart health –         Good for digestion –         And more…   Dishes that use Kokum:- Sol Kadhi This tangy drink is popular in Goa. It is usually drunk during lunch/dinner or mixed with rice. Ingredients:  10 dried Kokum 1 cup grated coconut 1½ cloves garlic 1½ green chilli (chopped) ¼ inch ginger piece (chopped) Salt to taste Coriander leaves   Method: Put Kokum in warm water and keep aside for 30-40 minutes. Then squeeze the kokum juice out. Discard the pulp. Blend the coconut, ginger, garlic, […]

For the first time in Goa, an eco-farm will be opening which consists of more than just a farm or spice plantations. People can come here and admire the farm and get thrills as well. The construction of SharvRaj Eco-farm at Padoshe Sanquelim in Sattari taluka will be in five phases. The first phase will be inaugurated on 9th March 2019 at 4 pm. It will be open to the public from 10th March 2019 onwards.  The first phase is built in an area of 10 acres. The farm consists of horticulture, rainwater harvesting, vegetable cultivation, borewell recharge, different types of irrigation methods, medicinal herbs, water management, organic fertilizers, and more. Those who love adventure will be able to find it at the eco-farm’s adventure park which has features such as Burma bridge, climbing net, rope net crossing, catwalk net, sliding net, log swinging bridge, tyre climbing, and rock climbing. Their water park facilities are a water play station, family slide, spiral slide, multilane slide, and so on. Another attraction of SharvRaj Eco-farm will be the thrill rides- sky cycling (the first in Goa) and zip lining. Other activities include horse rides, bull cart rides, archery, etc. They will be […]

Crochet is a delicate craft in which a hook is used to loop wool or thread and continue it with stitch after stitch until the desired product is completed. It has its own place in every Goan household. This can be realized by the fact that every bride brings with her crochet items as a part of ‘dennem’ to her in-laws’ place. The craft of crochet came to Goa with the arrival of the nuns and missionaries in the 15th century and from has been passed on from one generation to other. It is time-consuming but the end result is an elegant, delicate, soft piece of work. This craft empowers housewives in Goa. Crochet is used to create many items like blankets, blouses, coats, caps, socks, gloves, tablecloth, purses, and much more. It is a refreshing alternative to machine-made products.   SHERYL GONSALVES | NT GOGOANOW Pic credit: Shivang Mishra | NT GOGOANOW

We are destroying the only home we have. Our waters and land are filled with waste, especially plastic. Animals and sea creatures tend to consume this plastic which is very dangerous for their well being. It also releases toxins into the water which affects the food chain. Our laziness and carelessness concerning the environment not only affects nature but the human race itself. There are many times when people try to enjoy the majestic beauty of our Goa beaches but instead they have to see and feel litter floating in the water. Areas of land which have the ‘Do Not Litter’ sign are dumped with even more waste material than usual. Why can’t we refuse to accept plastic bags and use cloth bags? Why can’t we plant more trees? Let’s say No to plastic straws. Why can’t we fight our urge to litter and reduce/ reuse/ recycle instead?  Tiny individual choices such as these will eventually have a positive impact on our planet. Concerned Goans voiced out their opinions: “It’s not just the uneducated but even the educated who disregard the environment” – Desiree D’souza, student “Mother Nature is deteriorating because of inconsiderate people”- Ashnett Fernandes, accountant “There should be more clean-up drives […]

The heat is intense but it’s the time of the year that seasonal fruits are available in plenty Seasonal fruits are popular among locals in Goa, especially during the summer. With the popularity of social media, these summer fruits are searched on Google and tracked down in the markets. This has increased demand and has caused the prices to go up. Mangoes, the king of fruits, have always been the favourite. The ‘Mankurad’ is so superior that in the Panaji market, people spent about Rs 4,000 a dozen after the mangoes came to the markets in March. The rates have stabilised but ask the elders around and they’d say, “People would give them to us for a song (free). We never had to think twice before buying Mankurad mangoes but today it’s out of the common man’s reach.” Raw mangoes are coveted too. Used for pickles, preservatives and to go along with urrack with some salt and chilli, the markets are flooded with raw mangoes. ‘Panne’ is a cooler made from raw mangoes. Fresh tender cashews (bibbe) are used in various recipes. These cashews are plucked and peeled to get tender cashews. A favourite of Goans, there’s so much joy […]

Jaggery is a concentrated sugar product that is obtained from sugarcane or palm trees. It is considered as an alternative for sugar as it is very much sweet and also brings nutritional properties with it, which are very much essential to the human body. In Goa the Coconut jaggery (maddache goud) and sugarcane jaggery (ushi’che goud) are widely used in the cuisine to prepare various delicacies. These both types of jaggery can be easily identified based on their distinctive appearance. The coconut jaggery has a blackish color whereas the sugarcane jaggery has a tan-brownish appearance. As far as the sweetness factor of both these jaggery goes, the coconut jaggery is superior to cane jaggery. The coconut jaggery is widely used in the cuisine of Catholic community in Goa, who use it to prepare delicacies such as pinagr, dodol, patoloi, donnem and other sweet dishes. Whereas the cane jaggery is profoundly used in the cuisine of Hindu community, who use it to prepare prassad on the occasion of pooja or patoloi’s which are prepared on the occasion of nagpanchami. These varieties of jaggery are very much easily available in all sorts of general stores and local markets located across Goa.

Chefs share smoothie recipes to beat the heat.  GRANOLA & FRUIT SMOOTHIE Ingredients:1 banana sliced1 apple medium (Peeled & Diced)1/3 cup plain Greek yoghurt1/4 teaspoon cinnamon powder1tbsp. maple syrup or honey1 tbsp. flaxseed powder1/2 cup granola1/4 cup ice Method:Crush granola coarsely in the blenderAdd Greek yoghurt, soy milk, and honey to blend it wellAdd the rest of the ingredients and blend until smoothVoila! Granola smoothie is ready AVOCADO SUPER SMOOTHIE Ingredients: 1/2 cup of almonds & walnuts1 ½ – 2 cups of spinach leaves chopped1 firm ripe avocado 1 ½ cups almond milk 1tbsp. of liquid apple syrup or honey1tbsp. sunflower seeds1tbsp. pumpkin seeds Method:Add mixed nuts (almond & Walnut), sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds in a blender and blend it wellAdd spinach, avocado & soya milk in a blender. Blend until smoothAdd liquid apple syrup or honey and blend it for another 10 seconds.Pour into glasses and serve. PEANUT BUTTER AND HONEY OAT SMOOTHIE (from Executive Chef Nitin Mathur, Taj Santacruz) Ingredients: 2 cups of rolled oats (pan-roasted)½ yoghurt1 cup almond milk1 large banana3tbsp. peanut butter2 tablespoons honey1tbsp flaxseed powder   Instructions: Place oats in blender and processPour milk into a blender and allow processed oats to soften in […]

Many people across the globe are starting to realize the numerous benefits of something so humble- coconut oil. The best type of coconut oil to use is unrefined, organic, and virgin.  It is no secret that there is an abundance of coconuts in Goa. Dry coconuts are gathered, split open, and their insides are taken out and chopped. This is then sun-dried till they reach the right texture for oil extraction. The coconut pieces are then taken to the mill and the oil is extracted. But what can it be used for?   Coconut oil in cooking Coconut oil can act as a healthy substitute for other ingredients. For example, in baking, room-temperature coconut oil can be used to replace butter. It can also be used instead of other oils in various recipes be it sweet or savoury. Coconut oil is said to probably have health benefits like aiding weight loss, reducing hunger, promoting healthier bones, and more. It remains stable even at high temperatures.   Coconut oil for skin If you have dry skin, coconut oil can be a great moisturizer. It may also reduce dark spots, scars, and fix uneven skin tones.  It can also be combined with […]