Producing products to support whole body health for 40 years, Melrose live for healthier people, the world over, everyday. At Melrose they believe that health can and should taste great and doesn’t have to be a chore, or a bad tasting experience and isn’t a pill that you pop and you’re done. They believe in using the best possible ingredients – and wherever possible, that’s Australian organic. They believe in Australia – and are proudly 100% Australian owned and they believe in helping people make healthier choices by offering great tasting products to support their wellbeing, specialising in daily health oils, healthy kitchen oils, and nutrient powders.

We had a chat with the Melrose team to learn more.

Who are the team behind Melrose and what made you launch?

The Melrose brand was launched in Melbourne in early 1979 by Geoff Steinicke. He had previously worked in the pharmaceutical industry until he started hearing about alternative medicine and the emerging ‘health food’ category. The idea of healthier food and natural products appealed to him as a better way of preventing illness, rather than treating illness. He set out to create a manufacturing business to produce quality Australian health foods. Over the years, Melrose has grown to be one of Australia’s leading and trusted health food brands.

The Melrose Group now has over 100 employees and two manufacturing sites in Melbourne.

What does a day in the life of Melrose team look like?

Every day is different at the Melrose HQ. The teams gather for various department meetings so that we’re all up to speed with all functions of the business from sales to marketing, R&D, quality, production and procurement, just to name a few. Of course, we are producing and shipping out products everyday which is what gets us out of bed each morning!

For those who haven’t tried it, what is MCT oil?

Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT’s) are a particular type of dietary fat that are commonly found in coconut and palm oils. MCT’s are important fatty acids that are between 6-12 carbon chains long, and are rarer in the diet than other fats. The Melrose MCT range consists of varying blends of caproic (C6), caprylic (C8), capric (C10), and the slightly longer 12-chain MCT lauric acid (C12).

MCTs aren’t digested and absorbed in the same way as normal dietary fats, instead they are easily digested and processed in the liver, providing immediate fuel rather than being stored as fat in the body. They have been researched extensively for their many benefits.

Can you tell us more about the health benefits of MCT oil?

Melrose has three varieties of MCT Oils to provide multiple health benefits. MCT oil in general has been used in research for more than 50 years. Its benefits include supporting mental and physical performance, aids in weight loss, supports brain function and by producing ketones helps provide fuel for immediate bodily energy.

• Melrose MCT is made with only the best part of the coconut.
• We use 100% coconut oil in our MCT.
• Free of herbicides, pesticides and is sustainably farmed in Philippines and bottled in Australia.
• We scrutinize and test every step of the way to meet our high-quality standards.
• We choose to use Coconut Oil rather than Palm Oil due to the associated negative ecological effects caused by Palm Oil plantations.

How do you use MCT oil?

The best part of Melrose MCT is how versatile it is! As it is a practically tasteless oil, you can add it to smoothies, use it in place of olive oil in dressings, pour it over eggs or steamed green veg, add it to pesto, or simply take it off the spoon. We recommend starting Melrose MCT by a teaspoon, and gradually working up to two tablespoons.

What is your favourite MCT oil recipe?

Our favourite way to enjoy Melrose MCT is to have a Melrose Keto Coffee – this recipe was developed by our ambassador Rachel Finch (@rachael_finch) and it is delicious!

Ingredients:

30mL espresso coffee

20mL / 1 tablespoon Melrose Organic Grass-fed Ghee

20mL / 1 tablespoon Melrose MCT Oil (Original, Pro Plus or Pro Rapid)

80mL boiling hot water

1 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1 teaspoon of turmeric, 1 teaspoon of maca powder

Method:

Place coffee, ghee, MCT oil, cinnamon, turmeric, maca powder and boiling water into a small blender, blend on high speed for about 10 seconds until coffee is creamy and smooth. Remove from blender and serve immediately.

Tips: Make sure your blender is suitable for hot liquids. If not, then blend all ingredients above with a small amount of warm water to emulsify, then top up with boiling water to serve

If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only take 3 things, what would they be?

We would need a photograph of our loved ones, sunscreen, and our MCT Pro Plus – endurance blend for long island days!