Guest guest Posted August 9, 2007 Report Share Posted August 9, 2007 There is an African Market nearby that is selling shea butter in 8 oz blocks in zip-lock bags for $3.00 a bag. I bought some to see what it was like and figured, at the very least, I could experiment with it and not feel as though I was wasting something expensive I bought online. The smell is typical of unrefined shea and it is off-white in color and feels nice. My concern is that it's in plastic bags and has probably been handled quite a bit to get into those bags plus, the store owner didn't have any real info as to it's origin. He talked about the benefits of shea but didn't seem know any more than that. Does anyone know what could be some of the problems, if any, with this shea or how it's being sold? Is it possible it's perfectly fine or is there just no way of knowing without the seller being aware of where it came from and how it was processed? Thanks, Susan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 11, 2007 Report Share Posted August 11, 2007 , " susan " <ripple95 wrote: > > There is an African Market nearby that is selling shea butter in 8 oz > blocks in zip-lock bags for $3.00 a bag. I bought some to see what it > was like and figured, at the very least, I could experiment with it > and not feel as though I was wasting something expensive I bought > online. The smell is typical of unrefined shea and it is off- white in > color and feels nice. My concern is that it's in plastic bags and has > probably been handled quite a bit to get into those bags plus, the > store owner didn't have any real info as to it's origin. He talked > about the benefits of shea but didn't seem know any more than that. > Does anyone know what could be some of the problems, if any, with this shea or how it's being sold? Is it possible it's perfectly fine or is there just no way of knowing without the seller being aware of where it came from and how it was processed? Thanks, Susan ---------------------- It could be just fine. He probably buys it in a big bucket and bags it himself. When you are buying a large pail, like 50 pounds or so, it is usually less than $3 a pound. So if he packages it himself in a ziplock he's making a modest profit on it. He may be buying it from a supplier and just doesn't want to give out the info. Most small suppliers will buy from one of the larger suppliers or importers and then package for resale. A lot of big suppliers of oils and butters don't want to handle one pound quantities because it is so labor intensive to package. When I used to get small quantities, it often came in baggies, especially if I was getting it from a co-op. Baggies are the cheapest way to package a small amount. Little tubs cost more, and to package that way you have to melt it and pour it into the tubs. Thats tricky with shea because you need to control the temperature while it is firming up or it can form little grains. More work, more expense. When you buy a pound or so, it will easily cost about $10 to $15 a pound. As with any ingredient, a significant amount of the expense is in the work involved in packaging. I get my shea from Oils by Nature and they source and import their own. The raw stuff is shipped from Africa packed in big gourds and will have bits of wood, feathers and stuff from the way it is harvested and processed in the co-ops. After it is refined and strained you get that cream colored natural shea. I personally like that type as it is soft and I like the creaminess. As you get to the cosmetic grades and highly refined lotion grades it gets lighter, is firmer, and has less detectable scent. I always buy a large pail, and I will frequently get together with other soapers in the area and split a pail because it is so much cheaper that way. Chances are he could get the info from the supplier, but as he is selling small quantities at retail, he may not see it as necessary. You are getting it for $6 a pound and not paying shipping, so that is a pretty good deal for someone who is only using a small quantity. Joanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 11, 2007 Report Share Posted August 11, 2007 Thanks for the reassurance. I had only bought online and never saw shea sold like this before. I appreciate knowing it's not unusual for it to be sold this way. I have to say it is really nice shea. Creamy, clean looking, typical smokey/nutty scent. It is actually much nicer than a shea I bought from a seller recommended by the American Shea Butter Institute! That shea was hard, didn't liquify easily and had a rubbery smell. Thank you, Susan > ---------------------- > It could be just fine. He probably buys it in a big bucket and bags > it himself. When you are buying a large pail, like 50 pounds or so, > it is usually less than $3 a pound. So if he packages it himself in > a ziplock he's making a modest profit on it. > <snip> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 11, 2007 Report Share Posted August 11, 2007 The one thing you should be concerned with should be sanitation. Take a good look around the market and see what impression you get. Does the business and its employees demonstrate the use of good hygiene? Whatever your inspection shows, those are the conditions under which your shea butter was handled, cut and packaged. If it's a clean, well-managed market there's a good chance that everything should be fine with the shea butter. If it's not, then you should worry about how the butter was handled. Vivian Camden-Grey Essential Oils www.camdengrey.com Celebrating our 8th year supplying the highest quality raw materials, butters and oils. Lye & potash are now available. Visit us! , " shupy3 " <jwittenbrook wrote: > > , " susan " <ripple95@> wrote: > > > > There is an African Market nearby that is selling shea butter in 8 > oz > > blocks in zip-lock bags for $3.00 a bag. I bought some to see > what it > > was like and figured, at the very least, I could experiment with it > > and not feel as though I was wasting something expensive I bought > > online. The smell is typical of unrefined shea and it is off- > white in > > color and feels nice. My concern is that it's in plastic bags and > has > > probably been handled quite a bit to get into those bags plus, the > > store owner didn't have any real info as to it's origin. He talked > > about the benefits of shea but didn't seem know any more than > that. > > Does anyone know what could be some of the problems, if any, with > this shea or how it's being sold? Is it possible it's perfectly > fine or is there just no way of knowing without the seller being > aware of where it came from and how it was processed? Thanks, Susan > ---------------------- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 12, 2007 Report Share Posted August 12, 2007 I thought of that while I was in there. I was trying to look around and get a feel for the place-seemed nice enough. I'll keep an eye on the shea butter I bought and see how it holds up. Thanks for the advice. Susan , " motembo " <orderdesk wrote: > > The one thing you should be concerned with should be sanitation. > Take a good look around the market and see what impression you get. > Does the business and its employees demonstrate the use of good > hygiene? Whatever your inspection shows, those are the conditions > under which your shea butter was handled, cut and packaged. If it's > a clean, well-managed market there's a good chance that everything > should be fine with the shea butter. If it's not, then you should > worry about how the butter was handled. > > > Vivian > Camden-Grey Essential Oils > www.camdengrey.com > > Celebrating our 8th year supplying the highest quality raw materials, > butters and oils. Lye & potash are now available. Visit us! > > > > , " shupy3 " <jwittenbrook@> > wrote: > > > > , " susan " <ripple95@> wrote: > > > > > > There is an African Market nearby that is selling shea butter in > 8 > > oz > > > blocks in zip-lock bags for $3.00 a bag. I bought some to see > > what it > > > was like and figured, at the very least, I could experiment with > it > > > and not feel as though I was wasting something expensive I bought > > > online. The smell is typical of unrefined shea and it is off- > > white in > > > color and feels nice. My concern is that it's in plastic bags > and > > has > > > probably been handled quite a bit to get into those bags plus, the > > > store owner didn't have any real info as to it's origin. He > talked > > > about the benefits of shea but didn't seem know any more than > > that. > > > Does anyone know what could be some of the problems, if any, with > > this shea or how it's being sold? Is it possible it's perfectly > > fine or is there just no way of knowing without the seller being > > aware of where it came from and how it was processed? Thanks, > Susan > > ---------------------- > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.