Shea Butter and African Black Soap

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Red Palm Oil Information

How we make our Virgin Red Palm Oil

Harvesting palm fruit

Harvesting palm fruits in Southern Togo

Removing fruit from the bunch

Removing palm fruit from the bunch

Pounding fruit to release the oil

Pounding palm fruit to release the oil

We use the fruits of oil palms that grow along the streams and rivers and small scale farms throughout central to Southern Togo. We do not use any commercial plantain-grown palm fruits in our oil production. The palm fruit is carefully inspected by hand, and only the best quality fruits are selected. The fruits are left for 36 hours to allow fermentation to occur.

The fruits are plucked, washed, then steamed for a few minutes to soften the pulp. They are then poured into a large mortar or frapper and pounded until the flesh separates from the nut. The nut is set aside to dry and is used to produce our virgin palm kernel oil. By the time the flesh has separated from the palm nut, oil has already begun to appear.

The entire mass of oil and fiber is scooped into a hand-operated screw press, which presses the oil out of the fiber mass. The red oil is heated slightly to remove all the remaining water, then let sit for 24 hours for all the impurities to descend down to the bottom of the tank. After the 24 hours the red oil is filtered through the traditional gravity filtering system to further remove any impurities.

Note that the filter is of 100 microns, therefore this process does not refine the pure red oil. The end result is a natural, handcrafted red palm oil that is a rich source of pro-vitamin A in the form of carotenoids. Virgin palm oil contains about 15 times more carotenoids than carrots, which gives the oil its deep red color. Palm oil is also rich in vitamin E and is free of cholesterol.

Uses of our Virgin Red Palm Oil

Red palm oil, like shea butter, is one of West Africa's most important oils. Locally in Togo, red palm oil is used for many purposes. It is a popular cooking oil and a main ingredient in many of our delicious sauces. Due to its very high vitamin A content, it is an essential part of the West African diet.

Red palm oil is also used in health and beauty care. Local herbal doctors believe that red palm oil has strong anti-microbial properties. It is also used as a to counter the effect of poisons and as a laxative. Red palm oil is also widely used on the skin as a moisturizer and healing agent. It is also an excellent base for smooth, gentle soaps.

Throughout Togo, red palm oil is known as the "best friend of all duties" and is deeply embedded in all aspects of Togolese society. It is an important part of traditional religions. For instance, the Sakpana from Kaboli cover their entire bodies with red palm oil during their ceremonies.