What is Karite (Shea butter)?
Shea Butter or Karite is the yellowish beige, or ivory-colored natural fat extracted from crushed Shea/Karite nuts. In the Natural Personal Skin Care Industry shea butter is used for its moisturizing, emolliating and anti-inflammatory qualities.The Shea Karite tree is highly valued in Africa. West Africans call the butter Ori or Oyi and use it for a variety of topical applications to the entire body. Also know as the tree of life, it is illegal to cut down these trees in many parts of Africa. The karite tree grows in 19 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Its scarcity makes it highly valued in the world market. Below is a picture of the nuts (R) and”almonds” (L) from which Shea Butter is extracted. ® 2005 Chisara’s Gold Products. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is strictly prohibited without written permission.
