Cold Pressed Oil & the Rainy Season

Every year, the arrival of the monsoon changes the way we work at our oil mill.

For most people, the rainy season means cooler weather, greener surroundings and the occasional traffic jam. For us, it means paying closer attention to things most people never get to see—seed moisture, storage conditions and the time freshly pressed oil takes before it is ready to be bottled.

The rainy season doesn't reduce the quality of a well-manufactured cold pressed oil. What it changes is the way we manage different stages of production to consistently achieve the same quality.

Here's what changes—and what doesn't.

What Doesn't Change

Our standards for selecting seeds, the way we press them, the quality checks we carry out and the responsibility we have towards every bottle leaving our mill remain unchanged throughout the year.

The monsoon doesn't change our standards. It simply demands greater attention to maintain them.

Whether we are pressing oil in April or in the middle of July, every batch is expected to meet the same quality standards before it reaches our customers.

What Changes During the Rainy Season?

Seed Moisture

The first thing we monitor more closely during the monsoon is moisture.

Oilseeds naturally absorb moisture from the surrounding air when humidity remains high over extended periods. Even seeds that were properly dried after harvest can gradually regain moisture if storage conditions are not carefully managed.

Managing seed moisture becomes one of the most important parts of production during the rainy season.

This means inspecting incoming seed lots more carefully, monitoring storage conditions more frequently and, where necessary, drying the seeds further before pressing.

Natural Settling

Our work doesn't end when the oil leaves the wood press.

After extraction, we allow our oils to rest naturally before bottling. During this period, extremely fine suspended particles gradually settle, allowing cleaner oil to be drawn for bottling.

During prolonged cloudy weather, this natural settling process often takes longer than it does during the dry months.

For us, that simply means allowing the batch the additional time it needs before bottling.

Storage

The rainy season also changes the way we manage storage.

Seeds and freshly pressed oil both need protection from unnecessary exposure to moisture. Every time a storage container is opened, it comes into contact with the surrounding air. During prolonged periods of high humidity, this requires greater care than it does during the summer.

The product doesn't change during the monsoon. The discipline required to store it properly does.

Cooking Behaviour

One question we occasionally receive during the rainy season is why one batch of oil may develop slightly more surface froth than another during deep frying or tempering.

There can be several reasons for this, and one of them is moisture. Even relatively small differences in moisture can become noticeable once the oil is heated.

Managing moisture carefully during production and storage helps maintain consistent cooking performance throughout the year.

A Manufacturing Observation

During June and early July 2026, Bengaluru experienced an extended spell of cloudy weather with intermittent rain. During this period, we observed that several batches of our naturally settled cold pressed oils required three to seven additional days before they reached our normal bottling standards.

Rather than shorten the settling period to keep our dispatch schedule unchanged, we adjusted our production schedule instead. Some customer orders were dispatched later than usual, but every batch completed its normal settling cycle before bottling.

For us, that wasn't an exception. It was simply part of working with nature while maintaining the same production standards.

What to Look For

Seasonal variations are a normal part of any food that begins on a farm. What matters is how those variations are managed.

Choosing the right manufacturer is often more important than choosing the right season.

When choosing a cold pressed oil, it is worth asking a few questions:

• Does the manufacturer maintain the same production standards throughout the year?
• How are seeds stored and managed during the monsoon?
• Is adequate time allowed for traditional processes before bottling?
• Is the manufacturer open about how seasonal variations are handled?

The answers to those questions often tell you far more about the quality of an oil than the season in which it was produced.

Key Takeaways

• The rainy season changes production conditions, not production standards.
• Managing seed moisture becomes more important during prolonged humid weather.
• Natural settling may require additional time before bottling.
• Storage and handling demand greater discipline during the monsoon.
• Good cold pressed oil is produced by adapting to seasonal conditions—not by compromising on quality.

Continue Exploring the Woodified Journal

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