Where does Shea Butter come from?

Shea Tree

Shea butter is a natural extract from the fruit-stone of the shea tree, which grows in the dry Savannah lands of African countries such as Ghana, Togo and Nigeria. The greenish-yellow fruits resemble plums: they have a thin, nutritious pulp and contain a large, oil-rich seed. About 50% of this kernel is made up of five fatty acids, plus phenolic compounds with anti-oxidant properties.

For many generations in Africa, these natural plant oils have been extracted from the kernel to produce ‘shea butter’ and used for cosmetic and medicinal purposes, for protecting the skin against the sun, and also as food.

Shea butter is a very effective moisturiser – it is absorbed quickly, and is tolerated by most skin types. It is good for treating dry skin prone to eczema, dry scalp and skin rash, stretch marks, and chapped lips; it softens hard skin on the feet and heels. Because it contains high levels of triterpene esters, including tocopherol (vitamin A), it provides some protection against the sun’s UV-B radiation.

Shea Butter

When shea butter is extracted by the traditional process, it retains the full range of phenols, esters and other compounds that give the healing properties. There is also an industrial extraction process using hexane solvent, which yields a pure white, odourless product: it contains the refined fatty acids, but minus most of the other compounds. One group of producers in Ghana explains that these two kinds of shea butter can be thought of as like whole-wheat bread versus white bread.

Nature’s Gift Products uses pure natural shea butter in all its skin care products. By combining essential oils with shea butter, we can fragrance and mask the smell of natural shea butter. However, feedback from many customers from all walks of life, including young people, is that they like the smell of natural shea butter, and there is a strong demand for the pure butter, either supplied in block form, or whipped and packaged in a jar.

Small jar 50g £4.00

 Large jar of 200ml  £8.00

excluding postage.

To buy pure shea butter in small or large quantities contact the following number.

Further details on naturesgiftproducts

contact naturesgiftproducts@gmail.com and/or 07903063869