Introducing Dong He Oil
東和製油
Based in Chiayi, Taiwan, Dong He is a 100 year-old producer of cold-pressed oils and stone-ground sesame pastes. The company is managed by Grace Huang, the family's third-generation matriarch. They are as meticulous about sourcing ingredients as they are about processing them. See below to learn more about what makes their products stand out.
Locally-Grown Ingredients
Dong He uses locally farmed Tainan #9 peanuts for their cold-pressed peanut oil. Known for its aroma and flavor, this variety is only found in Taiwan and tastes just like eating a Peanut Candy in Penghu.
Traditionally Cold-Pressed
Dong He extracts oil by toasting sesame seeds over a wood fire before grinding them into a mash. This mash is shaped into an oilseed cake with a mold and a hydraulic press. These cakes are then stacked and compressed using slow pressure only—a true cold press with no added heat.
All-Natural Processing
The seeds from Dong He's Taiwan Alpine Camellia Oil are collected in Ren’ai, an indigenous mountain township. They ripen on the tree and fall into nets below before being sun-dried; no fertilizers are used. The resulting oil is delicate, with an asparagus-like note and buttery finish.
Stone Ground Nut Butters & Pastes
Dong He's sesame pastes are made by slowly grinding toasted sesame seeds with mechanically powered stone wheels. Marvel at the primordial sesame mud and imagine the perfume.
More About Dong He Oil
好香, 好香
In this monthly newsletter from Yun Hai founder Lisa Cheng Smith, Lisa expands upon the history of this 100 year-old seed mill and oil press. Watch seed cakes being pressed and learn how your favorite sesame pastes are made.