The Shea Butter Experts

Shea Nuts to Shea Butter – The Final Product

Posted on 15. Sep, 2009 by funlayo.

0

The wisdom and skill of these African women to extract this rich nourishing butter from a brown shea nut never ceases to amaze me.

Shea Nuts to Shea Butter – Kneading

Posted on 09. Sep, 2009 by funlayo.

0

The kneading process is the actual extraction phase. All the preliminary activities of boiling, shelling, drying, crushing, roasting and milling serve to make extraction process more productive.

Shea Nuts to Shea Butter – Crushing and Roasting

Posted on 04. Sep, 2009 by funlayo.

0

The roasting of the crushed nuts serves to soften the nuts and make the next steps of oil the extraction easier. I have seen the roasting of shea nuts done in two ways. The crushed nuts are roasted in an open pan, or they are placed into a roaster as shown below. Both ways are fine as long as there is no burning.

Continue Reading

Methods for Drying Shea nuts – Traditional Ovens

Posted on 03. Sep, 2009 by funlayo.

3

Throughout the shea butter producing areas of West Africa, producers employ different methods in drying their shea nuts. Most use the traditional sun drying methods while others use the traditional ovens.

Continue Reading

A case for Solar Dryers in Shea Butter Processing

Posted on 02. Sep, 2009 by funlayo.

0

Sun drying is the process of drying crops in the open, but it’s not very effective. Flies, other insects and debris intrude. It is preferable for drying to be done in a controlled environment, utilizing the sun to heat the air before it is passed through stacks of grains.

Continue Reading

Greetings from Shea Butter Coop in Nigeria

Posted on 21. Aug, 2009 by funlayo.

0

My first visit to a shea producers cooperative was the Women’s Shea Butter Cooperative in Ipapo Nigeria. Ipapo is located in the Shea belt in South Western Nigeria. I arrived at the beginning of the harvest season in April. This cooperative starts harvesting shea nuts earlier than most parts of the shea producing areas in Nigeria.

Continue Reading

Strategic Partners in the Shea Butter Business

Posted on 20. Aug, 2009 by funlayo.

0

In order to be fully engaged and enjoy the potential benefits of the shea butter trade, local producers need to be linked with strategic partners in the area of training, financing and marketing

Continue Reading

Maker Faire Africa (MFA) – Celebrating African Innovation

Posted on 20. Aug, 2009 by funlayo.

0

This is one event I wish I could have attended. It took place in Accra, Ghana 2 weeks after I left. The underlying theme of Makers Faire inaugural event is to celebrate ingenuity, innovation and invention within Africa.

Continue Reading

Shea Butter Empowers Rural Women

Posted on 18. Aug, 2009 by funlayo.

0

Empowering rural women is the key to sustainable economic development in Africa. Women producers have high hopes that they are in a position to do better for themselves and their families.

Continue Reading

Shea Butter Value Chain

Posted on 15. Jul, 2009 by funlayo.

0

The Shea Butter Value Chain describes the process by which the shea nut goes from the tree to the shelf of your local Wholefoods, Personal care boutique, or even a chocolate bar.