Shea butter

While in the village in northern Uganda, Joel and Adam got to see the process of how Shea butter is made and even got to help out a little! It was so cool that I thought I would share some pictures, you know, since everyone has a burning desire to learn how to make Shea butter ;)


Here are all the shea nuts. After they fall from the tree they are collected and put into these bags.




The shea nuts are cleaned and then poured into this grinder and made into a fine powder.




Here is the powder coming out the bottom




A closer look




Then hot water is poured into the powder





Then it is mixed together until it becomes kind of like a paste.




Next the paste is put into a bunch of these white bags




And then flattened and rolled up




Here's a picture of the press




The white bags are put into the bucket 3 at a time, with a plate in between each layer.






Then two people work together to turn the press. Joel and Adam even got to take a turn.




Here is the shea oil coming out of the bottom and being collected in a bucket.






It is then poured into a pitcher





Next the oil is mixed with water in a bowl





And then it is boiled until the water, oil and dirt separate



The oil comes to the top so you can just scoop the pure oil off the top. Then it is boiled again to get rid of the rest of the water, making it completely pure shea oil.



Here's the purified shea oil. It is then left to cool and harden.



And here is the finished product!




Pretty cool, huh?


Shea butter is great for dry skin and hair. In Africa it is even used as cooking oil. What is so neat is that by buying this product you help an entire community of people who basically have nothing. I love how this whole village is working together to produce the shea butter. So cool!

Joel and Adam had an incredible time in Uganda and are excited about the opportunities for Get Bridged to help the people there!

More on their trip to come . . .