Please note: Our 55 lb blocks of organic naturally refined and unrefined shea butter are certified organic. Our smaller sizes are not yet certified organic. We are in the process of having them certified.
Where To Buy Shea Butter Locally
Please note: Our 55 lb blocks of organic naturally refined and unrefined shea butter are certified organic. Our smaller sizes are not yet certified organic. We are in the process of having them certified.
Where To Buy Shea Butter Locally
Shea butter (/ʃiË/, /ˈʃiËÉ/, or /ʃeɪ/; Bambara: sÃtulu ßߌßßߎߟߎ[1]) is a fat extracted from the nut of the African shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa).[2] It is ivory in color when raw and commonly dyed yellow with borututu root or palm oil. It is widely used in cosmetics as a moisturizer, salve or lotion. Shea butter is edible and is used in food preparation in some African countries.[3] Occasionally, shea butter is mixed with other oils as a substitute for cocoa butter, although the taste is noticeably different.[4][5]
The common name is shÃsu ßßߌßßߎ (lit. "shea tree") in the Bambara language of Mali. This is the origin of the English word, one pronunciation of which rhymes with "tea" /ʃiË/, although the pronunciation /ʃeɪ/ (rhyming with "day") is common, and is listed second in major dictionaries. The tree is called ghariti in the Wolof language of Senegal, which is the origin of the French name of the tree and the butter, karitÃ.
Shea butter is composed of five principal fatty acids: palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and arachidic (see Table below). About 85 to 90% of the fatty acid composition is stearic and oleic acids. The relative proportion of these two fatty acids affects shea butter consistency. The stearic acid gives it a solid consistency, while the oleic acid influences how soft or hard the shea butter is, depending on ambient temperature.
The proportions of stearic and oleic acids in the shea kernels and butter differ across the distribution range of the species. Ugandan shea butter has consistently high oleic acid content, and is liquid at warm ambient temperatures. It fractionizes into liquid and solid phases, and is the source of liquid shea oil. The fatty acid proportion of West African shea butter is much more variable than Ugandan shea butter, with an oleic content of 37 to 55%. Variability can be high even locally, and a tree that produces hard butter can grow with one that produces soft butter.
Nuts are gathered from a wide area for local production, so shea butter consistency is determined by the average fatty acid profile of the population. Within West Africa, shea butter from the Mossi Plateau region of Burkina Faso has a higher average stearic acid content, and so is usually harder than shea butter from other West African regions.[10]
Phenolic compounds are known to have antioxidant properties.[11] A recent study characterized and quantified the most important phenolic compounds in shea butter. This study identified 10 phenolic compounds, eight of which are catechins, a family of compounds being studied for their antioxidant properties. The phenolic profile is similar to that of green tea, and the total phenolic content of shea butter is comparable to virgin olive oil. Also, this study was performed on shea butter that had been extracted with hexane, and the authors note that traditional extraction methods may result in higher phenolic levels.
In some African countries such as Benin, shea butter is used for cooking oil, as a waterproofing wax, for hairdressing, for candle-making, and as an ingredient in medicinal ointments. It is used by makers of traditional African percussion instruments to increase the durability of wood (such as carved djembe shells), dried calabash gourds, and leather tuning straps.[citation needed]
In Ghana, shea butter, locally known as Kpakahili (Eng. trans. raw cream) in Dagbani, nkuto (Akan) or nku (Ga), is either used as a food product or applied as lotion to protect the skin during the dry Harmattan season. The shea nut tree itself is called tÃÃÅà (pl. tÃÃnsÃ) and the fruit is called tÃÃnà (pl. tÃmÃ). The current northern regional capital Tamale derives its name from a combination of the words "tama" and "yili", meaning "the town of shea fruits".
Commercial grades are A, B, and C. The color of raw (grade A) butter ranges from cream (like whipped butter) to grayish yellow. It has a nutty aroma which is removed in the other grades. Grade C is pure white.[20][21] While the level of vitamin content can be affected by refining, up to 95% of vitamin content can be removed from refined grades (i.e., grade C) of shea butter while reducing contamination levels to undetectable levels.[22][23]
Here at KaritÃ, we do shea butter a little different than most, with ingredients exactly the way they should be - unrefined and unprocessed. With 30% shea butter our body cream has one of the highest concentrations on the market today.
Pure Shea Butter can be used as a hair and body balm and it can also be incorporated with other ingredients to make lotions and creams. Most moisturizers on the mass retail shelves that claim to be made Shea Butter moisturizers, typically contain less than 1% Shea. For best results, Shea Butter lotions or creams should include no less than 5% of Shea. The most effective body creams and lotions will contain at least 20% of Unrefined Shea Butter in their formulas. Always look at the ingredient list. If Shea Butter is somewhere in the middle or bottom, you are not buying a real shea butter products
Our organic unrefined shea butter is crafted from shea nuts grown in Ghana. Shea butter is a popular in the natural body care and cosmetic industry and has been used for centuries in Africa for its moisturizing properties.
FairTaleGhana was built to embrace two goals: to support Ghanaian women in earning fair wages and spread the magic of raw African Shea butter. We are on a mission to connect producers and consumers. Just like you, we believe in fair business where both parties take home the benefits from their product. Simple.
For centuries, people have relied on Shea butter to keep their skin young and healthy in all weather conditions. The healing powers of the butter have been legendary. From annoying insect bites to the scorching sun, the butter has remained a sought-after remedy in most everyday situations.
Shea butter gets mentioned in nearly all African historical documents. Did you know that according to a legend, Cleopatra demanded that large jars of Shea butter traveled with her wherever she went. We can definitely get behind the idea of natural beauty being celebrated for centuries!
Today, Shea butter is fighting wrinkles and making people smoother kissers both near the equator and the poles.
From our experience, colour isn't related to the quality of the organic shea butter, the most important factors are age and storage conditions. It is quite common for unrefined shea butter to be an uneven colour.
Our organic shea butter has a scent that varies between batches. Some people find the scent of organic shea butter overpowering, our advice in this instance is to leave the shea butter uncovered for a few days and change the container and the scent will start to fade.
Our African shea butter originates from Ghana and is processed in the traditional way, by the women who harvest the nuts. This keeps the traditional method of shea butter alive, which is much better for the community.
Looking for the best shea butter in Singapore? Singapore Soap is the leading supplier of shea butter in Singapore. Check out our top quality 100% pure organic raw unrefined shea butter and 100% pure refined shea butter here!
Shea butter, a fat extracted from the nut of the African shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa), comes in raw and refined form. It is a triglyceride derived mainly from stearic acid and oleic acid and widely used in cosmetics as a moisturizer, salve or lotion. Raw shea butter is an off- white or ivory-colored fat extracted from the nut of the African shea tree while pure shea butter (also known as refined shea butter) is whiter. Both are considered to be beneficial for skin conditions.
It is not well known that Shea Butter is not a recent discovery or accomplishment. This all-natural product has existed for several centuries. It is believed that some of the early users of shea butter were women like Cleopatra and the Queen of Sheba.
In its natural state, shea butter is bursting with moisturizing fatty acids and is rich in vitamins A, E, and F. It also contains cinnamic acid which provides a small amount of UV protection (the equivalent of an SPF6). The combination of all of these factors make shea butter very useful for treating skin conditions ranging from dry skin to eczema to stretch marks.
High concentrations of fatty acids and vitamins make shea butter an ideal cosmetic ingredient for softening skin. Shea butter also has anti-inflammatory and healing properties. Using shea butter on your body, especially your face, can condition, tone, and soothe your skin. Some of the benefits of Shea butter are:
Unless you have the luxury of traveling frequently to Africa to buy from the local markets , you might wish to consider getting one that is locally available. So, where do we find real organic raw unrefined african shea butter and refined shea butter in Singapore? From Singapore Soap, of course! Sinapore Soap is a leading supplier of raw and refined shea butter in Singapore, check out our shea butters at wholesaler prices below.
If your hair is naturally curly or porous, consider using shea butter as a conditioner. Make sure your hair has absorbed most of the shea butter before rinsing and styling as usual. You can also use a small amount of shea butter as a leave-in conditioner.
Wow what a fascinating article. I love shea butter and had never really thought about were it came from or what the process was to make it. It is so interesting to hear that the women make it by hand. Really great to hear that it is a female dominated industry and is helping women have financial freedom.
My fiance loves shea butter. She uses it for everything, even as a SHAMPOO! I never really thought about the process or where it really came from so this is an eye-opener indeed! Great pictures and explanation to go along with them ?
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