• How is shea butter fractionated?
  • Once refined, shea butter can be fractionated into two parts: a creamy fat known as shea stearin and a liquid oil called shea olein¡ªotherwise known as shea oil. Fractionation separates these two unique components using either a chemical reagent or physical methods like centrifugation.
  • Does shea butter need solvent extraction?
  • For these reasons, solvent extraction is generally not preferred for shea butter extraction¡ªespecially in food and cosmetic markets where consumers seek natural, organic ingredients. What is shea oil? Traditional water extraction, mechanical expeller pressing, and solvent extraction yield shea butter.
  • What is the shea butter export market?
  • The shea export market traditionally traded raw shea kernels rather than shea butter or other finished products. However, as shea applications have evolved and processing methods have improved, shea butter exports have increased as producing countries invest in more advanced equipment.
  • How is shea oil extracted?
  • As a result, many shea producers are adopting more mechanized solutions to improve quality and yield. Larger processors use mechanical extraction equipment to recover more oil efficiently. Screw press expellers physically crush the shea kernels to squeeze out shea oil from the solid meal, which exits the expeller as a cake.
  • What is shea butter used for?
  • African civilizations have been processing shea nuts by hand for centuries, using tedious traditional methods of shea butter extraction to produce a valuable fat used to make food, skincare products, and healing ointments.
  • What is Shea olein used for?
  • Shea olein, or shea oil, is used extensively in cosmetic formulations as an effective emollient and a rich source of antioxidants. Shea oil is used in personal care products formulated for both skin and hair because it nourishes, moisturizes, repairs, and protects from damage.