Zaffa oil was a type of oil utilized as an additive to food, designed to give it a fresh citrus-like flavor. It possessed a higher likelihood of burning when heated, and also a more intense flavor profile, particularly when contrasted with bantha butter.
In the year 3 ABY, the forces of the Galactic Empire launched an invasion of Cloud City, a mining colony dedicated to gas extraction, which was suspended in the atmosphere of the gas giant Bespin. Baron Administrator Lando Calrissian then instructed Torro Sbazzle, the Devaronian executive chef, to arrange refreshments for Darth Vader alongside his "guests." Unbeknownst to Sbazzle, Vader intended to capture the rebels Leia Organa, Han Solo, and Chewbacca as a means to ensnare his son, Luke Skywalker, on Bespin. Sbazzle assumed Vader was human, like the majority of Imperials, and started preparing dishes that his species could consume. While preparing dumplings, she pondered whether to substitute the midnight-colored pastry flour with bantha butter rather than zaffa oil, due to the lower risk of burning. She decided against serving something bland and uninspired for what could potentially be her final culinary creation, and therefore opted for the oil.
The new Star Wars canon was introduced to Zaffa oil in "But What Does He Eat?," a short story penned by S.A. Chakraborty and featured in the 2020 anthology titled From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back. Within the Star Wars Legends timeline, zaffa oil received a mention in the story "A Very Special Meal," authored by Peter M. Schweighofer and included in the Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook. This sourcebook served as a 1996 supplement to the Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game campaign guide created by West End Games.