Shea Butter: Fair Trade, Unrefined Shea Butter and African Black Soap

"I recently purchased 50 pounds of your unrefined shea butter and must say it's the nicest shea I've ever received. It's creamy texture & natural light scent will be incorporated into many of my all natural products...." - New Hampshire

Purchase Our Bulk Shea Butter

Agbanga Karite unrefined shea butter is a beautiful creamy butter that is made traditionally under fair trade and organic guidelines. Agbanga Karite shea butter is not extracted using hexane or other chemicals, bleached, or deodorized. We do not add preservatives, yellow coloring agents (natural or artificial), or other additives to our unrefined shea butter. We make and bring it to you fresh in its purest & most natural state.

Like all premium unrefined shea butters, it has a characteristic nutty scent, which disappears after a few minutes when rubbed on skin. Unrefined shea butter is a very versatile active ingredient for skin and hair care products, and has excellent anti-aging, soothing and moisturizing properties.

Agbanga Karite Shea Butter and Empowerment

Over 94% of Agbanga Karite members are women who did not have the opportunity to receive formal schooling. Yet, our women have extensive knowledge in the indigenous production of shea butter. This knowledge is what makes Agbanga Karite shea butter so distinctive.

For example, this photo shows a group of our women stirring the shea oil as it crystallizes. This is a delicate and critical process, and the wrong rate and method of stirring can create air pockets in the butter. Most unrefined shea butter producers will eliminate this step, since the butter will crystallize without it and it can take up to six hours to get the desired consistency. However, we think this is one of the most important points in the shea butter process, since it is what makes our butter so exceptionally creamy.

Regardless of their indigenous knowledge, these women are excluded from Togo's formal employment sector because they do not have formal educations. When you buy Agbanga Karite pure unrefined shea butter, you are giving value and recognition to the skills of these women. You are also helping to alleviate the gender income inequality. At the same time, you are receiving a beautiful and healthy shea butter at a competitive price.

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