Guest guest Posted September 3, 2003 Report Share Posted September 3, 2003 Please, do tell us more Margaret! What did ya learn about ... what does a shea butter technician do, what are those shea butter grades I've read about (like what is the difference between A, B, C, D, yada yada)? I am an inquiring mind and I wanna know! I've thought about buying their handbook, but its a little pricey for me at the moment. Maybe I can get Santa to bring it for Christmas (I'm already getting my bass fiddle repaired for my upcoming b-day *Smile* Chris (list mom) http://www.alittleolfactory.com I recently returned from a trip to Atlanta GA. where I took a workshop on shea butter. It was through the American Shea Butter Institute. I learned more about shea butter than most people would ever want to. Long flight, short trip for sure coming from the West Coast, but well worth it. ...<snipped> Margaret (Certified Shea Butter Technician awarded by the American Shea Butter Institute) cool huh Natural Indulgences LLC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 3, 2003 Report Share Posted September 3, 2003 Hi Chris, To be honest, I learned quite a bit. This post would be pretty long. For a start, a shea butter technician is a fancy label for those of us that took the workshop and passed the test to get the certificate. I guess what it means is that I know lots about shea butter. I do plan on writing a booklet on shea butter that will basically summerize what I have learned in researching the butter and what I got out of that class. I will be submitting my info to you so I can post ads on here as well. I will tell you that I personally have become more aware of the possibilities that unrefined shea butter has a huge potential to enter the US contaminated. Contaminated with several things too. The only way to know for sure what the shea butter is made of is to have it tested for these certain items. I will not buy again from anyone who has NOT had their butter tested. It can be dangerous to say the least. I do plan on importing my own and have been working since I've returned on all that. It does take time for sure. Dr. Hunter who founded the Institute basically stated that there are on standards of production in Africa and that is what he is working towards. Therefore there are no standards of the unrefined butter coming into the US. I heard horror stories from some of the importers there, that told of tons of butter coming over and it was full of mold spores and high in iron. Some has come contaminated with feces, yep you heard it, that is because some tribes use contaminated water in the production. I could go on, but will spare you unless you ask for more. lol The grading is done based on the content of the butter. A grade A premium shea butter has certain standards for what it contains. Like high vitamin A, low peroxide level, low fatty acid level, high vitamin e, no microbial contamination, and a lot more I would need to look at my workbook. Okay most importantly the unsaponifiable level must be 6% or more. That is the fraction that contains all the healing goodies. Refined butter has no goodies anymore. This would be grade F. They are destroyed in the refinement process. It is purely a moisturizer. No vitamin A, no vitamin e, no phytosterols etc..... And amazingly enough it is the ultra refined extracted with hexane that the FDA has approved as a food item. I have the specs on that in the workbook. Other grades are just lower levels of the good stuff that grade A would require to be considered premium. Did that make sense?? I suppose that's enough for now. I will be happy to share any other info anyone might want. Right now, I need to spend some time with my 3 year old. And try to get over this pain in my mouth from the temporary crown they just put on. OUCH! Hate that stuff. I'll go look for my stash of happy oils to sniff Take care, Margaret Natural Indulgences LLC ps. when is your birthday? >Please, do tell us more Margaret! > >What did ya learn about ... what does a shea butter technician do, what >are those shea butter grades I've read about (like what is the >difference between A, B, C, D, yada yada)? I am an inquiring mind and I >wanna know! > >I've thought about buying their handbook, but its a little pricey for me >at the moment. Maybe I can get Santa to bring it for Christmas (I'm >already getting my bass fiddle repaired for my upcoming b-day > >*Smile* >Chris (list mom) > >http://www.alittleolfactory.com _______________ MSN 8: Get 6 months for $9.95/month http://join.msn.com/?page=dept/dialup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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