RE: shea Q. for Soseneda

[Guest guest]

It works because of the way shea butter is when you receive it. If the

shea is not completely melted, it will crystallize as it cools. I

explained it in more detail in my post on kokum butter.

 

It doesn't matter how many times you heat it and cool it, if it does not

get totally melted, it will always be grainy.

 

The reason it needs to be done longer on moist days has to do with the

way stoves work, nothing to do with the butter.

 

Don't heat it with the oils, as I mentioned in the post, you can do big

batches before hand and then just mix them in when soft, as long as the

shea is not heated above 160 again.

 

I have been making potions and toiletries since I was tiny. My mom does,

and her mom, etc. A lot of my knowledge of stuff like this comes from

experience, and good note taking.

 

Heating shea very little works great, once it has been melted and

refined.

 

Blessings,

Soseneda

 

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: soseneda_arianrhod

 

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SArjuna [sArjuna]

Saturday, January 26, 2002 7:57 PM

 

shea Q. for Soseneda

 

 

< Shea needs to be heated to 175 degrees Fahrenheit and kept at that

 

> temperature for 20 minutes. On very moist days, keep it at 25 minutes.

>>

 

I would never have thought of that! Others have said to heat it

very

little, so I have been adding it last after the other oils cool a bit.

However did you come by this information? If it was from a book,

I'd

love to know what book that is.

Do you know WHY this works? The fact that you have to do it longer

on

moist days woud seem to indicate that there is moisture in the buttter

that

is being driven off. There shouldn't be, though?

I have never undrstood WHY shea gets grainy. Maybe you know?

My only concern about this is that heat is not great for oils. Any

comments on that?

Thanks,

Shivani