African Grade a Ivory 1 Pound (16oz) 100% Raw Unrefined Shea Butter

Shea Butter: A Timeless Beauty Treasure

Shea Butter enjoys a rich history in Africa, having been used for various purposes, including beauty, since ancient times. It was even employed during Cleopatra's reign in ancient Egypt, where the queen used it for skin and hair care. According to legend, she received shea butter in large clay pots. Queen Sheba is also believed to have used this versatile natural ingredient.

The exact origin of shea is not entirely known, due to changes in vegetation and continuous semi-domestication. However, in 2016, archaeologists discovered shea nut shells in houses in Burkina Faso dating back to 100 CE, providing evidence of its historical use. The trade in shea butter can be traced back roughly 4,300 years to ancient Egypt, with documented records of its trade during the periods of 1352-1353 and 1795-1797 by explorers.

Shea trees, ranging from 33 to 49 feet in height, exhibit a well-branched, circular growth pattern. The bark of these trees is thick and spongy, providing protection against wildfires that frequently occur and cause damage to the surrounding vegetation. After approximately ten to fifteen years, the trees start bearing fruit, reaching their peak productivity at around 20 years and continuing to produce nuts for up to 200 years.

The shea fruits undergo a development and ripening process lasting four to six months, following the blooming of the trees with creamy white petals that last for a month or two. As they mature, the green fruits transition to a rich brown color. On average, each tree yields 30 to 45 pounds of fruit per year, with peak yields reaching even higher.

During the annual season, when food supplies are scarce, shea nuts are collected during the rainy season, which spans from May to August. This process involves several days of careful selection, gathering, drying, pounding, and kneading.

Shea nuts are gathered and processed using the same traditional methods that have been practiced for thousands of years. Ripe shea fruits naturally fall from the trees and are collected early in the morning. Local women, often with the help of children before school, traditionally carry out the harvesting. Women across Africa, often working together in groups, have embraced the production of shea butter as a means to achieve economic self-sufficiency.

In recent decades, the popularity of shea butter has grown worldwide. The manufacturing of shea butter is mostly overseen by women, and it is thanks to their dedicated work that we have shea butter available to us. The women of Africa deserve credit for their unwavering efforts in providing us with this precious natural resource.

There are two different methods utilized for the processing of Shea Butter: crushing and solvent extraction. The solvent extraction method involves the use of hexane as a solvent to extract the majority of the fatty components. This technique is advantageous as it enables the extraction of the highest proportion of fatty acids and is also cost-effective. Particularly in the chocolate industry, Shea Butter is widely utilized, and the solvent extraction process has become the standard practice.

Numerous households across West Africa hold their own unique methods of procuring shea butter, a tradition enduring through many generations. In most homes, the basic process remains similar. The undertaking begins with selecting shea nuts, the fruit of the Shea Tree. These nuts are then cracked, roasted, and ground. The mixture is subsequently boiled in water for several hours until the shea butter floats to the top. Once this happens, the substance is gathered into gourds where it cools and solidifies. This entire process is carried out manually. This age-old method may not yield large quantities of shea butter, but it remains favored due to its natural, chemical-free extraction process.

Women's participation in the Shea Butter industry significantly bolsters their economic stature, facilitating them to make vital decisions and investments concerning their lives, families, and communities. Shea butter serves as a critical employment and income source for women in rural areas. The proceeds from selling Shea butter are directed towards various essential expenses like household bills, education fees, and infrastructure development, all aimed at elevating their family's wellbeing. This involvement fosters a sense of independence and empowerment in women by enabling them to make decisions autonomously, with minimal interference from their male counterparts. Shea butter hubs have also established a space for women to share ideas and uplift their lives and initiatives.

Shea butter proves particularly useful during the winter months, serving as a wonderful moisturizer. Unrefined shea butter has an ivory color, but its hue may vary with the crop. Customers can combine Shea Butter with other natural ingredients to make their own DIY lotions, body butters, and much more.

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