Sheabutter Making

The Process: From Tree to Treasure

Let me walk you through the process, as my grandmother taught me, and show you how every jar of shea butter comes to life:

1. Harvesting the Shea Nuts
It all begins with the shea trees that grow wild in the village. These trees are more than just a source of butter—they are sacred, cared for by the women who rely on them to support their families. When the fruits are ripe, the women gather them by hand, just as we’ve done for centuries. The nuts inside the fruits are what will eventually become the shea butter you use.

2. Roasting the Nuts
The nuts are taken to the village kitchen, where they are roasted over an open fire. The fire is lit with the same care my ancestors used, because this step is what releases the rich, nourishing oils. The aroma of roasting shea fills the air, and it’s in this moment that I feel the connection to my grandmother and the women who came before me.

3. Grinding and Kneading by Hand
After roasting, the nuts are ground into a thick, creamy paste. My grandmother would sit with me, showing me how to grind the nuts by hand, the same way her mother showed her. The grinding is rhythmic, almost like a song—a song of our ancestors. After grinding, the paste is kneaded until it’s smooth and ready for the next step.

4. Boiling  and Extracting the Oils
The paste is washed with fresh water, and the precious oils rise to the top. It’s a magical process, where the raw material becomes something truly special. The oil is collected, refined, and carefully crafted into the shea butter that will heal and protect your skin.

5. Cooling and Packaging
Once the shea butter is ready, it’s cooled and packed with love—each jar a little piece of our village, a little piece of my family, and now, a little piece of your family too.