AfriKids - Shea Butter (Karite Butter)

Shea butter, also known as karite butter, is a cream-coloured fatty substance made from the nuts of karite nut tree or "the tree of life"(also called Mangifolia trees) that grow in the savannah regions of West and Central Africa. Karite trees, or shea trees, are not cultivated. They grow only in the wild, and can take up to 50 years to mature. In most parts of West Africa, destruction of the Shea tree is prohibited because this little nut provides a valuable source of food, medicine and income for the population. In fact, shea butter is sometimes referred to as "women’s gold" in Africa, because so many women are employed in the production of Shea butter.

Our Handcrafted Shea Butter is produced by a traditional method of cracking the outer pulp of the fruit to remove the kernel that is crushed. Traditionally this is done with a mortar and pestle. It is hard grueling work with the women spending hours lifting the heavy pestles and slamming them down into the mortar to crush the nuts so they can be roasted in huge pots over an open wood fire. The roasted Shea nuts are ground into a smoother paste, water is gradually added and the paste is mixed well by hand. The paste is kneaded by hand in large basins and water is gradually added to help separate out the butter oils. As they float to the top the butter oils, which are in a curd state, are taken out and excess water squeezed out. The butter oil curds are then melted in large open pots over a slow fire. A period of slow boiling will remove any remaining water, which boils off as steam. The Shea butter, which is creamy or golden yellow at this point, is ladled off the top of the pot and put in a cool place to harden. Our Shea Butter is pure, natural and contains no chemicals.

See the women who make our Shea Butter in action

Why We Add Shea Butter In All Our Products?

In its pure form Shea butter is unsurpassed by any other emollient to maintain and protect the skin. Shea butter easily penetrates the skin allowing the skin to breathe and not clog pores. It also helps diminish wrinkles by moisturising the skin, promoting cell renewal and increasing circulation. It contains cinnamic acid, a substance that helps protect the skin from harmful UV rays. It also protects the skin from both environmental and free radical damage. It contains vitamins A and E, and has demonstrated both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Shea butter is an invaluable emollient for all skin types.

The information provided above is not for diagnosing or treating a health problem. You should always seek medical advice from your doctor or dermatologist for any serious or persistent skin problems