The Origins and History of Shea Butter

Although Shea Butter is relatively new in the west, it has been used in Africa for thousands of years. There is even some archaeological evidence that it was one of the goods traded by the Ancient Egyptians.

It comes from the nut-like seed inside the fruit of the Shea tree (also known as the Karite tree), which grows in the dry Savannah belt of Africa stretching from Senegal in the west, to Sudan in the east. Traditionally used as a source of vegetable oil for cooking, it has also long been valued for its healing and moisturising properties and is used to protect the skin and hair from the harsh effects of wind and sun.

Scientific analysis has confirmed what African women have always known; pure, unrefined Shea Butter has everything needed to keep the whole family’s skin feeling and looking good. It is exceptionally rich in unsaponifiable matter and fatty acids, which nourish and moisturise; contains vitamins A and E (both essential for healthy skin), and even has its own natural sunscreen in the form of cinnamic acid.

If you want to experience the benefits of Shea Butter be sure to look out for products labelled Natural, Unrefined Shea Butter. This will have been produced by African women farmers using traditional methods that, although laborious, preserve all of the Shea Butter’s beneficial properties. Refined Shea Butter is extracted in an industrial process using chemicals, which can greatly reduce its quality.