It Starts with a Tree...
Shea butter is produced from the Shea nut, a fruit of the Shea Tree. Shea tree's take 15 to 20 years before producing the Shea Nut. Shea nuts are primarily grown in West and Central Africa in the semi-arid Sahel, referred to by traders as the "Shea Belt".
And then the Nut...
The Shea Nut grows on the Shea Tree. The nut is embedded in a soft fruit and fall to the ground during harvest. They are then buried in pits which causes the pulp to ferment and disintegrate and produces enough heat to prevent germination.
Shea nut products, the solid fat (butter or stearin) and the liquid oil (olein), are ideal for use as raw materials in cooking oil, margarine, cosmetics, soap, detergents and candles, but it has found its primary market niche as a substitute for cocoa butter in the chocolate and confectionery industry.
The nuts, which are embedded in a soft fruit, fall to the ground during the harvesting period (typically June through August). They are then buried in pits which causes the pulp to ferment and disintegrate and produces enough heat to prevent germination. The nuts are dried for a few days and are later shelled and winnowed, usually by hand. The kernels are dried further to reduce moisture content from about 40 percent to about 7 percent.
Shea nut products, the solid fat (butter or stearin) and the liquid oil (olein), are ideal for use as raw materials in cooking oil, margarine, cosmetics, soap, detergents and candles, but it has found its primary market niche as a substitute for cocoa butter in the chocolate and confectionery industry.
The nuts, which are embedded in a soft fruit, fall to the ground during the harvesting period (typically June through August). They are then buried in pits which causes the pulp to ferment and disintegrate and produces enough heat to prevent germination. The nuts are dried for a few days and are later shelled and winnowed, usually by hand. The kernels are dried further to reduce moisture content from about 40 percent to about 7 percent.
Producing with Fair Trade in mind...
Fair Trade is about following guidelines that strengthen market access to otherwise marginalized producers. It aims to provide higher wages to producers, help develop knowledge and skills to improve their lives. At the same time, Fair Trade advocates to seek and raise awareness of philosophies among consumers in developed nations.
Sheabase shea butter is purchased from distributors following Fair Trade practices and is currently seeking additional Fair Trade partners in Africa.
Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO) has again begun (2004) to consider fair trade labelling standards for shea products. Once established, it is hoped that product labelling could encourage consumers to purchase shea butter products obtained from women working under fair trade conditions.
Shea Butter ...
Additionally, Sheabase shea butter (by our distributors) as the main ingredient in our whipped lotions, is Certified Grade A. The Shea Butter Institue of America (http://www.sheainstitute.com/) certifies shea butter and assigns a grade.
References:
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2004). Reinforcing sound management through trade: shea tree products in Africa. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/docrep/008/y5918e/y5918e11.htm
United Nations Conference on Trade and Devlopment. (2002). Market and Technical Survey: Shea Nuts. Retrieved from http://www.unctad.org/infocomm/francais/karite/Docs/world3.pdf
The Shea Network. (2002). Burkina Faso. Retrieved from http://www.thesheanetwork.net/burkina-faso.html
Wikipedia.org. (2011). Fair Trade. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_trade
Akingbala, J. J., Falade, K. K., Adebesi, E. E., Baccus-Taylor, G. G., & Lambert, I. I. (2006). Effect Of Processing Conditions On Yield, Physical And Chemical Properties Of Shea Butter. West Indian Journal of Engineering, 29(1), 73-80. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
United Nations Conference on Trade and Devlopment. (2002). Market and Technical Survey: Shea Nuts. Retrieved from http://www.unctad.org/infocomm/francais/karite/Docs/world3.pdf
The Shea Network. (2002). Burkina Faso. Retrieved from http://www.thesheanetwork.net/burkina-faso.html
Wikipedia.org. (2011). Fair Trade. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_trade
Akingbala, J. J., Falade, K. K., Adebesi, E. E., Baccus-Taylor, G. G., & Lambert, I. I. (2006). Effect Of Processing Conditions On Yield, Physical And Chemical Properties Of Shea Butter. West Indian Journal of Engineering, 29(1), 73-80. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
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