Agbanga Karite Shea Butter Newsletter
Issue 2 Volume 4 - April 2005
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This Newsletter Contains:
THE SHEA SEASONS AND SIGNIFICANCE IN CENTRAL TOGO This time of year is when the shea trees across Togo begin to blossom and renew their leaves. The shea blossoms are positively correlated with the beginning of the rainy season in late March They are small white flowers with a light fragrance, and are an important food source for bees and other insects. By the end of April, the rains have begun to fall regularly, and this water, the first the shea trees have experienced in six or more months, allows the trees to set fruit. By mid June, the shea fruits begin to ripen. Shea fruits are bright green and resemble chicken eggs in size and shape. The fruit has three layers. The first layer is the skin, under which is the pulpy fruit that has similar color and texture to avocado. Then there is a fibrous shell that covers the kernel, which is the actual part that contains the oil. The shea fruit has a unique sweet / sour taste, which is relished by birds and some of Togo's deadliest snakes. One bird, which is called Egan in central Togo, nests exclusively on shea trees because of the abundant food supply for their young. Ripe fruits fall to the ground, where people harvest them for a tasty snack or dessert. In fact, in central Togo the shea fruits help with what we call the "hungry time," the period in between when the new farming season begins and the food saved for the previous season is running out. The shea fruit is high in vitamin C and provides a good source of energy, especially for children and farmers. In addition to consuming the fruits, farmers also feed them to their livestock, such as chickens and cows. Once the fruits are eaten, the nut is dried and lightly steamed to help shrink the kernel so it is not damaged after the shell is cracked with a stone. The shells are a reddish color and are used on the farm as a natural fertilizer. Once the shells are removed, the shea kernels are dried for storage and shea butter making throughout the year. If the kernels are properly dried, they have a shelf life of 5 years or more. In fact, the shea nuts from the previous season produce more oil and a creamier textured butter since they have a lower moisture content. WORKING WITH SHEA BUTTER, PART II Shea butter body butters are basically shea butter with the addition of a lighter oil, such as virgin coconut oil, or any liquid oil to make it easier to spread on the body. To make whipped shea butter body butter, a simple recipe to work with is: 70-80% shea butter If you are using a liquid oil, try 80:20. If you are using a semi solid oil, try less shea butter. To make a whipped butter, melt the semi solid oil, and warm the shea butter (do not melt, just soften). Mix the two oils together and whip with a mixer or by hand vigorously. The more you whip, the lighter and creamier the butter will be. Add the fragrance and spoon and/or squeeze with a pastry bag into your jars. Softening and not melting the shea butter will ensure that your body butter will have the creamiest texture and will not be grainy. This approach can also be used with balms. However, if you prefer to melt the shea butter, be sure to stir occasionally as the butter or balm is cooling. This will prohibit any graininess from occurring. FAIR TRADE IN THE UNITED STATES Fair Trade is not limited to the "developing" countries. The need is just as important in industrialized nations like the United States. Recently, a Florida based fair trade movement scored a victory in their battle for fair wages, more respect, better and cheaper housing, and an end to indentured servitude in the fields. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) declared an end to their boycott on Taco Bell in March after nearly four years when Taco Bell agreed to force its suppliers to pay a penny-per-pound surcharge on Florida tomatoes. Taco Bell owner Yum! Brands Inc. also pledged to work with the CIW to improve basic conditions and wages in the state's tomato industry. During a workshop on Fair Trade in the US and the Farm Labor Organizing Committee, Erick Veliz, coordinator of the Domestic Fair Trade Program, made the following comment: "Although the CIW set the foundation for justice and fairness in our fields, it is now up to us to continue to build the fair trade movement in the US…We can now go to other leaders in the produce-picking industry and other industries where there is a violation of fair trade principles and ask them: If Taco Bell can, why can't you?" To learn more about the CIW, visit their website at http://www.ciw-online.org. Togo presidential elections are taking place. To learn more about them, follow the link below: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4478001.stm -------- Copyright 2004-2005 Agbanga Karite Group Volumes: October
2004 |