• How is shea butter made?
  • In this article, we¡¯re going to explore how shea butter is made ¨C right from the cultivation of shea nuts to shea butter extraction and how to refine shea butter ¨C so that it can be used to cook food, moisturise skin, and even manufacture chocolate. Where is shea butter made? Native to West Africa, shea trees are the source of shea butter.
  • Where are shea nuts produced in Burkina Faso?
  • The Sissili and Ziro provinces are the most important production centres. Further, shea nuts are the country¡¯s third most important export after cotton and livestock. Since both shea nuts and shea butter are exported in huge quantities from Burkina Faso, their quality is extremely important.
  • Why is shea butter a global product?
  • Modern machinery and processes have enabled shea butter production at scales large enough to make the product accessible globally. This means that even though shea tree cultivation is limited by the decades-long process, shea nut processing, shea kernel processing, and shea butter production are no longer constrained by geography.
  • How are shea nuts processed?
  • Subsequently, the nuts are processed by boiling, roasting, or sun-drying. Boiling in water prevents the shea seeds from germinating and prevents hydrolytic degradation of the extracted shea butter. The boiled shea nuts are sun-dried, and then the dried shea nuts are cracked to obtain the kernels.
  • What is an oil extraction machine?
  • This machine is commonly used in commercial or industrial where there is a need for large-scale oil production. They are engineered to efficiently process significant quantities of oilseeds or nuts, ensuring high productivity and optimal oil extraction yields.
  • Why do Shea nuts need to be boiled?
  • Boiling in water prevents the shea seeds from germinating and prevents hydrolytic degradation of the extracted shea butter. The boiled shea nuts are sun-dried, and then the dried shea nuts are cracked to obtain the kernels. The kernels, too, are either sun-dried or roasted to eliminate any residual moisture.