The Blended Oil Trend Arrives in New Zealand

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The Blended Oil Trend Arrives in New Zealand – Unique Range From Harvest Provides the Best of Both Worlds

A new range of blended cooking oils, offering the benefits of two popular oils in one bottle, has hit supermarket shelves. Launched by Harvest Oils, a Kiwi owned brand that now boasts the most extensive oil range in the country, the oils are the first of their kind in New Zealand.

The range includes a Canola-Extra Virgin Olive and Rice Bran-Extra Virgin Olive blend. The inclusion of canola and rice bran oil means cooks can use it at a low or high heat while the olive oil gives food a mild, fresh, olive taste.

“We saw that blended oils were becoming a hot food trend overseas and knew the concept would be perfect for Kiwis,” explains Hamish Gordon, Managing Director of Harvest Oils. “New Zealanders are becoming increasingly adventurous in the kitchen and cuisine is more diversified – with Mexican, Latin American and Indian dining all gaining in popularity. This means people are using more high-heat cooking techniques, such as stir-frying, sautéing and oven roasting. The high smoke point of the blended oils is perfect for this as it means cooking can be done when the pan is very hot, giving meat and other ingredients that tasty, caramelised sear on the outside, which also stops food from soaking up the oil.”

“The canola and rice bran gives the oil its high smoke point. Most pure olive oils don’t have a very high smoke point on their own,” adds Hamish. “The blends will give consumers the freedom to use their oil for any type of frying, baking or grilling, without sacrificing the olive oil taste that they enjoy.”

As well as being versatile, the blends also combine the health benefits of two already healthy oils.

“They are naturally low in saturated fats, have no cholesterol, and offer all of the health benefits of olive oil, including high monounsaturated fat content - the “good fats” that research has proven may help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. The rice bran oil blend also contains lots of antioxidants,” says Hamish.

The Harvest Canola-Extra Virgin Olive and Harvest Rice Bran-Extra Virgin Olive Oils will be in all New Zealand supermarkets from mid-February. They are available in 1-litre bottles. RRP is $5.99 for Harvest Canola-Extra Virgin Olive and $7.49 for the Harvest Rice Bran-Extra Virgin Olive.

For more information on Harvest and the blended oils visit www.harvestoil.co.nz.

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