Shea Butter, refined vs unrefined??

[Guest guest]

I'm finding the Shea butter thread very interesting, but still need more

information on refined and unrefuned. What...exactly...does that mean?

What's the difference? Anyone have a preference,? And why? Thanks!

 

 

 

Christy

BOTANICAL AROMATICS

My Company in the Making

 

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[Guest guest]

Hi Christy,

 

Now here is a topic I can go on and on about. But.....I will make it fast

and hopefully sweet.

 

When Shea butter is made over there in Africa, they take the powdered nut

mix with water, cook over a fire till the fat lifts and then remove it. It

is then filtered of debris like nut shell pieces or what have you and that

is unrefined shea butter. (the really quick version). This is how it is

sold coming out of Africa. Most of it goes to the Chocolate industry as a

cocoa butter substitute. Some of if then goes to Europe generally (some

here) to a refining establishment. There are several ways to refine the

butter, but basically what refining does is take out the color, take out the

smell, take out the nutrients and vitamins that provide healing benefits

(because of the heat used) and that is refined butter. Refined shea butter

is chemically the same as tallow, cocoa butter, mango butter or any other

solid type butter. The one element that makes (unrefined) shea butter

different from those others is the fraction known as Unsaponifiable. This

is the fraction in shea butter that holds the healing vitamins,

phytosterols, triterpenes, latex (yep) and other stuff. This fraction is

very sensitive to heat. The other fraction is the moisturizing fraction and

when speaking of refined shea butter, that is what you are getting, a

wonderful moisturizer.

 

Now for preference. I prefer virgin/unrefined shea because of the vitamins

and the many benefits it offers to our skin. Yes, it has a smell, yes it is

unpleasant to some and may interfere with a lotion or cream that you want to

smell like something very particular. There are plenty of ways to enhance

the scent. It is totally worth it to use it. My personal testimonial is

that my very sensitive facial skin that used to have little bumps and

irritation, no longer has that. My skin has never felt or looked as good

since using unrefined/virgin shea butter. Plus, I used to get this eczema

type rash on the front of my shins every winter. Yuck! It would itch and be

nasty scaly and just icky. I have been using straight shea butter with

lavender eo and calendula co2 extract on my legs every day and I am so happy

to say that I am not having the problem so far this year! (knock on wood)

 

Hope this helped in your understanding. For more information on shea butter

you can visit my site for a little detail or go to

http://www.sheainstitute.com And, one of these days I am actually going

to sit down and finish writing my booklet on shea butter!

 

Take care,

Margaret

http://www.naturalindulgences.com

 

 

 

 

> " Christy Greenway " <fufuno1

>

>

>Re: Shea Butter, refined vs unrefined??

>Fri, 05 Dec 2003 09:34:05 -0700

>

>I'm finding the Shea butter thread very interesting, but still need more

>information on refined and unrefuned. What...exactly...does that mean?

> What's the difference? Anyone have a preference,? And why?

>Thanks!

>

>

>

>Christy

>BOTANICAL AROMATICS

>My Company in the Making

 

_______________

Tired of slow downloads and busy signals? Get a high-speed Internet

connection! Comparison-shop your local high-speed providers here.

https://broadband.msn.com

[Guest guest]

Margaret, thank you for the most useful information on Shea. I

especially found useful that unrefined shea has latex in it. I had heard

shea can irritate like latex, but wasn't clear why. I love shea, but have

a latex allergy and/or sensitivity, (not sure what to call it!) and must

keep exposure to a minimum. My skin reacts to dish gloves, and has been

doing this for 20 or so years. I don't use them anymore.

Sooooo...this would mean I'd probably have to pass on the unrefined. You

indicate the refined does not contain latex?

 

The odor of the unrefined may or may not be a problem for my products. I

use it for balms, and always add eo's, so it would depend on how strong the

scent was. Anyway, I much appreciate it, and I dub you the Resident

Shea Expert!

 

 

 

Christy

BOTANICAL AROMATICS

My Company in the Making

 

 

 

 

 

> " Margaret Helm-Duell " <naturalindulgences

>

>

>Re: Shea Butter, refined vs unrefined??

>Fri, 05 Dec 2003 13:24:16 -0800

>

>Hi Christy,

>

>Now here is a topic I can go on and on about. But.....I will make it fast

>and hopefully sweet.

>

>When Shea butter is made over there in Africa, they take the powdered nut

>mix with water, cook over a fire till the fat lifts and then remove it. It

>is then filtered of debris like nut shell pieces or what have you and that

>is unrefined shea butter. (the really quick version). This is how it is

>sold coming out of Africa. Most of it goes to the Chocolate industry as a

>cocoa butter substitute. Some of if then goes to Europe generally (some

>here) to a refining establishment. There are several ways to refine the

>butter, but basically what refining does is take out the color, take out

>the

>smell, take out the nutrients and vitamins that provide healing benefits

>(because of the heat used) and that is refined butter. Refined shea butter

>is chemically the same as tallow, cocoa butter, mango butter or any other

>solid type butter. The one element that makes (unrefined) shea butter

>different from those others is the fraction known as Unsaponifiable. This

>is the fraction in shea butter that holds the healing vitamins,

>phytosterols, triterpenes, latex (yep) and other stuff. This fraction is

>very sensitive to heat. The other fraction is the moisturizing fraction and

>when speaking of refined shea butter, that is what you are getting, a

>wonderful moisturizer.

>

>Now for preference. I prefer virgin/unrefined shea because of the vitamins

>and the many benefits it offers to our skin. Yes, it has a smell, yes it

>is

>unpleasant to some and may interfere with a lotion or cream that you want

>to

>smell like something very particular. There are plenty of ways to enhance

>the scent. It is totally worth it to use it. My personal testimonial is

>that my very sensitive facial skin that used to have little bumps and

>irritation, no longer has that. My skin has never felt or looked as good

>since using unrefined/virgin shea butter. Plus, I used to get this eczema

>type rash on the front of my shins every winter. Yuck! It would itch and

>be

>nasty scaly and just icky. I have been using straight shea butter with

>lavender eo and calendula co2 extract on my legs every day and I am so

>happy

>to say that I am not having the problem so far this year! (knock on wood)

>

>

>Hope this helped in your understanding. For more information on shea

>butter

>you can visit my site for a little detail or go to

>http://www.sheainstitute.com And, one of these days I am actually going

>to sit down and finish writing my booklet on shea butter!

>

>Take care,

>Margaret

>http://www.naturalindulgences.com

>

>

>

>

> > " Christy Greenway " <fufuno1

> >

> >

> >Re: Shea Butter, refined vs unrefined??

> >Fri, 05 Dec 2003 09:34:05 -0700

> >

> >I'm finding the Shea butter thread very interesting, but still need more

> >information on refined and unrefuned. What...exactly...does that mean?

> > What's the difference? Anyone have a preference,? And why?

> >Thanks!

> >

> >

> >

> >Christy

> >BOTANICAL AROMATICS

> >My Company in the Making

>

>_______________

>Tired of slow downloads and busy signals? Get a high-speed Internet

>connection! Comparison-shop your local high-speed providers here.

>https://broadband.msn.com

>

>

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[Guest guest]

And yet another view on shea...

 

refined is deodorizing and refining thru methods that use solvents, some

good, some bad.

OR it's filtering it thru a cloth or a sieve. Or letting it stand to

separate.

 

If you *really* want to know a lot about shea, go here:

http://www.raise.org/natural/pubs/shea/shea.pdf

And read.

 

Some shea is not filtered at all and has pieces in it. Some shea is filtered

and vitamin e added to keep it's shelf life longer.

 

According to the website above, the real unrefined shea is a

greenish/yellowish color. I have also seen it as a creamy color. The creamy

beigish color shows a step more refinement than the greenish/yellowish.

Usually thru a cloth/canvas.

 

Both of them are medicinal. The kind that does not have the medicinal

qualities, but is good for soaps is the kind sold at www.naturaloils.com

it's white and hard. with no smell.

 

There is some that is a golden yellow that the sellers say is more rare, OR

that scrapings of the tree root is put in the shea butter 'for the vitamin e

to preserve it longer'. However, my common sense tells me you do that too

too many trees and there won't be any trees left.

 

ALL unrefined or filtered shea has a smoky, nutty aroma to it. I like it.

 

Be *very* careful where you find your shea facts and from whom you purchase

shea if you are purchasing in bulk. There are probably more shysters in that

arena than in the eo arena. Because most people can't go to Uganda and

elsewhere to find out for themselves.

There are several in Georgia who have been turned in to the better business

bureau, or the process has been started.

 

 

Janine Phariss

www.BlueSageNaturals.com

Fade scars, relieve pain, clear up eczema!

[Guest guest]

Hey Janine,

 

>And yet another view on shea...

 

I wouldn't say another view, just more information from another person.

 

 

>refined is deodorizing and refining thru methods that use solvents, some

>good, some bad.

>OR it's filtering it thru a cloth or a sieve. Or letting it stand to

>separate.

 

Letting is stand to separate what? Don't forget high pressure steam to

naturally remove the color and odor. A filtered butter isn't necessarily

considered refined to my knowledge.

 

 

>

>If you *really* want to know a lot about shea, go here:

>http://www.raise.org/natural/pubs/shea/shea.pdf

>And read.

 

I'll have to do that after my garage sale tomorrow. Sounds familiar though.

Been to alot of sites when researching shea.

 

>Some shea is not filtered at all and has pieces in it. Some shea is

>filtered

>and vitamin e added to keep it's shelf life longer.

 

Very true, I've had some of that and was not impressed. Also about the

adding in vitamin e, lets go on and say that's not all people are adding.

There have been plenty of " rumors " that folks adulterate with soy oil,

stearic acid or any other " thing " to stretch the butter or to make it softer

or whatever.

 

>

>According to the website above, the real unrefined shea is a

>greenish/yellowish color. I have also seen it as a creamy color. The creamy

>beigish color shows a step more refinement than the greenish/yellowish.

>Usually thru a cloth/canvas.

 

Great, then my butter is the " real " unrefined. It is very beige and creamy,

but my son said " Mom, that looks green to me " of course I had to really

take notice and yes it does have a bit of a greenishness to it.

 

>Both of them are medicinal. The kind that does not have the medicinal

>qualities, but is good for soaps is the kind sold at www.naturaloils.com

>it's white and hard. with no smell.

 

Any unrefined is medicinal as long as it is tested in a lab! Did you know

that the very first test they do is for mold spores and yeast. And that is a

real problem in shea butter. They won't even bother to test further for

unsaponifiable % or vitamin content or anything else, why should they, it is

crap butter. That is one reason why testing unrefined shea butter is a good

idea.

 

>There is some that is a golden yellow that the sellers say is more rare, OR

>that scrapings of the tree root is put in the shea butter 'for the vitamin

>e

>to preserve it longer'. However, my common sense tells me you do that too

>too many trees and there won't be any trees left.

 

Any butter out of Ghana is going to be gold or yellow. Nothing any more

special about it than the other 18 countries in Africa that produce shea

butter. And East African is not any more " special " than the west african,

just different. Also some folks add a dye to make it yellow and yet other

producers wrap the fresh butter in banana leaves which can also lend a green

tint. A bigger threat to the shea trees is that they are harvested for

charcoal for a fuel source.

 

 

>ALL unrefined or filtered shea has a smoky, nutty aroma to it. I like it.

 

Yes it does, and me too, especially like to blend it with vco.

 

>Be *very* careful where you find your shea facts and from whom you purchase

>shea if you are purchasing in bulk. There are probably more shysters in

>that

>arena than in the eo arena. Because most people can't go to Uganda and

>elsewhere to find out for themselves.

 

Yes, be careful indeed. You can't believe everything you read or everything

you are told. Dig for facts that are scientifically proven and tested.

Find out what makes shea butter safe for use. And interestingly enough, I

know of 6 people that I met at the Shea Butter Institutes Workshop on Shea

butter, since that time have gone to different countries in Africa to do

just that. They are being as aware as they can and going to the expense of

that trip to make sure the people in the villages producing the butter are

doing so with appropriate measures in place. They are people dedicated to

bring to the States only safe pure tested shea butter. I find that

honorable. My supplier is from Togo and his family lives there. They have

been producing shea butter for 3 generations now. He is working with the

institute to make sure after all these years his butter is pure, safe and

the highest quality. So...I guess there are people that when choosing this

for their business are doing so with integrity.

 

>There are several in Georgia who have been turned in to the better business

>bureau, or the process has been started.

 

For what? At least share that with us. I know of a few businesses in

Georgia who sell shea butter. I would like to follow that one.

 

>Janine Phariss

>www.BlueSageNaturals.com

>Fade scars, relieve pain, clear up eczema!

 

Sincerely,

Margaret

www.naturalindulgences.com

Premium pure lab tested shea butter and Yummy Virgin Coconut oil!

 

_______________

Cell phone ‘switch’ rules are taking effect — find out more here.

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[Guest guest]

>There are several in Georgia who have been turned in to the better business

>bureau, or the process has been started.

 

For what? At least share that with us. I know of a few businesses in

Georgia who sell shea butter. I would like to follow that one.

 

 

Answered privately.

 

Janine