Shea as a product
In North and West Africa, shea butter is a well-known and widely used product, especially among women and girls. The fruits of the shea tree are a precious gift from nature and come from a tree that can grow up to 20 meters tall. While the flesh of the fruit is eaten, the kernel contains a unique fat—shea butter—which makes up as much as 50% of its composition.
Cultivating the shea tree is a challenge, as new plants usually grow by chance and it can take up to 20 years before the first fruits can be harvested. However, it takes up to 30 years for the tree to reach full productivity.
Unfortunately, there are currently no commercial plantations of the shea tree due to the extremely long time it takes to produce a harvest. However, the widespread presence of shea trees in West Africa is due to the tradition of sparing them during land clearing. In many countries, cutting down shea trees is considered a serious taboo, and in some cases it is even prohibited.
The shea nut harvest, which takes place from May to October, is a task carried out by women and girls in North and West Africa. The harvest traditionally begins with a festival called "Begu." The first shea butter harvested is used to prepare a communal dish of brown beans and shea butter.
The processing of shea nuts into shea butter is also a task carried out exclusively by women. After removing the pulp and cracking the shell, the nut is ground into a paste and heated. By adding water, the shea butter—with its delicate nutty aroma—is separated from all unwanted components and can then be skimmed off.
Shea butter is a special natural product with unique properties that set it apart from other fats. It has a solid consistency at room temperature and melts slowly at 37°C when held in the hand. The butter remains stable without preservatives and can be stored for more than 3–4 years in the high temperatures of Central Africa.
It is an excellent cooking oil with a high smoke point of 210°C, making it suitable for cooking and frying. It also contains a high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids, including 8–11% unsaponifiable components, which makes it highly beneficial for skin care.
The Benefits of Shea Butter
Shea butter contains a variety of nutrients, such as vitamin E and beta-carotene, as well as a high concentration of antioxidants. Its use as a food ingredient is not limited to the regions where the shea tree grows. It can replace more expensive cocoa butter in chocolate production and also serves as an alternative to controversial (refined) palm oil.
In African traditional medicine, it is an important component in the treatment of joint pain, rheumatism, osteoarthritis, and scar care.
However, shea butter is primarily used in the cosmetics industry. Discover its many uses for skin and hair.
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