Shea butter is a natural product that comes from the nut of the shea tree, which grows in Africa. It has been used for centuries for its moisturizing and healing properties, as well as for cooking and hair care. Shea butter can be found in two forms: refined and unrefined. Refined shea butter is the result of a process that uses high levels of heat and sometimes chemicals to extract the butter from the nuts. This process removes the natural color, smell, and texture of the shea butter, making it white, odorless, and smooth. OTI has found out that, in the Western countries, refined shea butter is easier to work with and has a longer shelf life, which is why it is widely used in cosmetics and skincare products, unlike in the MEA region, where clients prefer patronizing the raw shea butter. The refining process of shea butter strips away many of the nutrients and beneficial compounds that make raw shea butter so great for the skin. Up to 75% of the bioactive ingredients are lost during the refining process. It's important to know that, at Organic Trade and Invesmtents (OTI), we do not use chemicals to refine the butter to obtain the refined shea butter. Our refined shea butter is obtained by over heating the raw shea butter. Converserly, unrefined shea butter is the purest form of shea butter and it is extracted using traditional methods that do not involve high heat or chemicals. Unrefined shea butter retains its natural color, which can vary from ivory to yellow or green, depending on the region and season of harvest. It also has a distinctive nutty and smoky smell, which some people love and others dislike. Unrefined shea butter has a thick and chunky texture. This makes the butter harder to spread and apply than refined shea butter. Nontheless, unrefined shea butter preserves all of its vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory agents, which give it its amazing moisturizing and healing properties.
