How to Find the Best Quality East African Shea Butter

East African Shea Butter has many uses as a natural ingredient. It is commonly used in beauty products and supplements, as well as being used in cooking and kitchen applications. High-quality East African shea butter is beneficial, nutritious and has high potential to be profitable for those who are able to source it from reliable suppliers. However, when looking for the best quality East African Shea Butter there are many different factors you need to take into account. The market for this type of butter is growing fast, so it’s important to find reliable suppliers and establish relationships that are beneficial for both parties. This blog post explains everything you need to know about finding the best quality East African Shea Butter and avoiding products that might not be beneficial to your company or customers.

What to look for in Good Quality East African Shea Butter

There are a few key factors to look for when sourcing for high-quality East African Shea Butter: – Origin – The country of origin for the product will have a big impact on the quality of the butter. East African shea butter from countries like Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, where the harvesting season is during the dry season, is of higher quality than shea butter sourced from the wet season in West African countries like Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. – Harvesting Season – While the harvesting season will have the biggest impact on the quality of the East African shea butter, it’s also important to make sure it has been sourced from the correct species of tree. There are two types of shea tree: – The difference between the two is that the West African species produces a higher percentage of oil and has a creamier texture, while the East African species produces a higher percentage of butter and has a more yellowish texture. These two different types of shea butter have different benefits, so make sure you’re sourcing the right one for your product. – Harvesting Method – The harvesting method can also impact the quality of the East African shea butter. Organic shea butter is the highest quality, and is more expensive, while non-organic shea butter can be obtained at a reduced cost but may not have the same quality as its organic counterpart.

Check the product’s country of origin

When sourcing for the best quality East African shea butter, it’s important to check that the country of origin is one of the major producing countries. Shea butter is produced in a number of African countries, so you will want to make sure the product you’re buying has been sourced from one of these countries. There are a few ways you can do this: – Check the product’s label. If the product you’ve sourced lists the country of origin on its label, you can cross-check this information with independent databases like the United Nations Commodity Trade Statistics Database to make sure it’s legit. – Ask the supplier. If the product’s country of origin is listed on the supplier’s website, it’s a good idea to make sure it’s accurate before agreeing to buy the product. – Do your own research. If the product doesn’t have a label or the supplier’s website doesn’t list the product’s country of origin, you’ll have to do your own research to find out where the product comes from.

Assessing Product Freshness by Smell and Sight

When assessing the freshness of an East African shea butter product, it’s important to look at the smell and colour of the butter. The products freshness can tell you how long it’s been since it was harvested, which is a good indicator of how long it’s been since it was manufactured. – Smell – The first way to assess freshness is by smell. If the product smells like nuts or has a strong scent, it’s less likely to be fresh. Shea butter that’s been freshly harvested and manufactured shouldn’t have any strong odours. – Colour – The colour of the product can also be a good indicator of its freshness. When freshly harvested, the East African shea butter will have a yellow colour, but as it ages, it becomes a darker and more yellowish colour.

Assessing Product Quality by Touch and Feel

The best way to assess the quality of the East African shea butter is to handle it and get a feel for the product. You can do this by taking a small sample of the product, or even purchasing a very small amount and testing it out. – Feel – The texture of the product can tell you a lot about its quality. Freshly harvested shea butter is more creamy and smooth, while older product will be drier and harder to the touch. – Colour – The colour of the product is another good indicator of quality. Freshly harvested shea butter is a lighter yellow colour and has a more even colour, while older product will be a darker yellow colour with darker spots.

Conclusion

East African shea butter is a beneficial product with many uses. It’s important to source for high-quality product from reliable suppliers in order to get the most out of your investment. There are a few key factors to look for when sourcing for high-quality East African shea butter. They include the origin of the product, the harvesting season, harvesting method, and the product’s country of origin. It’s also important to assess the product’s freshness by smell, colour and feel. When sourcing for East African shea butter, it’s important to make sure the product has been freshly harvested and manufactured, as this will impact its quality.