palm oil Oil palms originated in Africa but are now cultivated in tropical areas of Central and South America and in Asia. Their nuts yield two oils, one a reddish oil from the whole nuts, the other an uncolored oil from the kernels of the nuts. The reddish oil, often extracted by hand in individual households, is traditionally used in parts of West Africa and in Brazil for cooking (see fitouf recipe). It is available from many South American and Caribbean stores. The colorless oil is industrially extracted for use in processed foods.
