Understanding Extra Virgin Coconut Oil Extra virgin coconut oil has become an increasingly popular superfood over recent years. Extracted from the meat of mature coconuts, it is a versatile and multi-purpose edible oil used for both cooking and cosmetic purposes. But what makes extra virgin coconut oil so special? To start, extra virgin coconut oil is different from regular coconut oil due to the extraction process. During the production of extra virgin coconut oil, fresh coconut meat is grated and then cold-pressed to obtain the oil.