Ghana Shea Butter

Product Lead

Ghana Shea Butter. Grade A, unrefined, wild-harvested.

Hand-harvested from wild Vitellaria paradoxa trees across Northern Ghana. Traditionally processed by women's cooperatives — nuts collected, sun-dried, roasted, ground, and kneaded to extract the butter. No chemicals. No solvents. No bleaching. No refining.

Rich, nutty aroma. Creamy ivory to light yellow colour.

Sourced direct from Ghanaian producers. Dispatched from our UK hub in Chelmsford, Essex.

Key Properties · Spec Sheet

Origin: Wild-harvested, Northern Ghana, West Africa
Type: Unrefined, raw (Grade A)
Processing: Traditionally hand-processed — nuts collected, sun-dried, roasted, ground, kneaded. No chemicals or solvents.
Colour: Ivory to light yellow (natural variation between batches)
Aroma: Naturally nutty, earthy (characteristic of unrefined shea)
Melting point: Approximately 35–37°C (softens at body temperature)
Key fatty acids: Oleic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid
Shelf life: 18–24 months stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight
Grade: Cosmetic-grade
Certification: Lab-verified with COA on request. Traceable to harvesting communities in Northern Ghana.

Batch COAs available on request · team@cocoafoundry.co.uk

How to Use · FAQs · Ordering

How to Use

Skincare

Apply direct as a rich moisturiser. Standard in formulations for dry skin, rough skin, elbows, knees, heels. Melts at body temperature for easy application.

Hair care

Deep conditioner, hot oil treatment, styling butter for natural and textured hair. Reduces breakage, adds moisture.

Soap making

Adds hardness, creaminess, and conditioning to handmade soaps. Typically 5–15% of total oils.

Cosmetic formulation

Base ingredient for body butters, lip balms, creams, lotions, balms, salves. Holds form at room temperature without synthetic hardeners.

Candle making

Blended with other waxes for natural, skin-safe candles.

What Is Shea Butter?

Natural fat extracted from the nuts of the shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa) — grows wild across the savannah regions of West Africa. Nuts are collected, cracked, roasted, and ground before the fat is extracted through traditional kneading and boiling.

Unrefined shea butter retains its natural bioactive compounds, fatty acid profile, and characteristic nutty aroma. Refined shea is industrially processed — scent, colour, and most of the natural composition stripped. Grade A is the highest unrefined quality available.

Why Ghana Shea Butter?

Ghana is one of the world's leading producers of premium shea butter. Production is centred in the northern regions where shea trees grow wild across the savannah. Nuts are hand-collected, sun-dried, and traditionally roasted by women's cooperatives — a practice that has sustained communities for centuries.

Ghanaian shea is specified by cosmetics and skincare formulators worldwide for its high concentration of oleic acid, stearic acid, and other fatty acids. The unrefined form retains the full natural composition. Refined shea butter has been chemically processed to remove scent, colour, and bioactive content.

Nothing is added. Nothing is stripped out.

Quality & Sourcing

Wild-harvested and traditionally processed in Ghana with no chemicals or additives at any stage. Lab-verified with Certificates of Analysis available on request — covering moisture content, free fatty acid levels, peroxide value, and microbiological testing. Traceable to specific harvesting communities in Northern Ghana.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is shea butter used for?

Skincare — body butters, creams, lotions, lip balms, hair treatments. Versatile base ingredient for cosmetics manufacturers and handmade skincare producers.

Is your shea butter refined or unrefined?

Unrefined. Retains natural colour, nutty scent, and full composition. Refined shea has been processed to remove scent and colour, which also alters much of the natural profile.

Can shea butter be used on the face?

Comedogenic rating around 2 — may not suit all skin types, particularly acne-prone skin. Most skin types tolerate it well. Patch test before first use on sensitive areas.

Is your shea butter food grade?

Our shea butter is intended for cosmetic use. For food-grade requirements, contact team@cocoafoundry.co.uk.

How should I store shea butter?

Cool, dry, away from direct sunlight. 18–24 months shelf life. May develop grainy texture over time — natural, resolved by gently melting and re-cooling.

What is the difference between Grade A and refined shea butter?

Grade A (unrefined) is traditionally processed without chemicals — natural colour, aroma, and composition retained. Refined shea has been bleached and deodorised industrially, producing a white, odourless product with a reduced bioactive profile. For formulations that rely on shea's natural properties, Grade A is the standard choice.

Sourcing & Ordering

Pack Sizes

100g250g500g1kg2kg5kg10kg15kg20kg25kg

Available through our online shop.

Wholesale (50kg+): email team@cocoafoundry.co.uk or visit the Wholesale page for trade pricing.

All orders dispatched from Chelmsford, Essex. Free delivery on orders over £50 to most UK mainland postcodes.

Certificates of Analysis: batch-specific COAs available on request. Email team@cocoafoundry.co.uk.