Many people are interested in learning about African Shea Butter and its beneficial properties. Some may also be wondering what the difference is between East and West African shea butter.
Shea butter is made by extracting it from the pits of the fruit of the shea karite tree. This tree is native to Africa and grows in the countries of Nigeria, Mali, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Togo, Senegal, Sudan, Burkina Faso and Uganda. It is relatively rare to see it grown anywhere else unless in a controlled environment (such as commercial greenhouses). This is why almost 98% of the shea butter you see and use is a type of African shea butter.
The next question of course we often get is whether East vs. West makes a difference.
The terms regarding eastern and western are derived from the geological location of where the tree was grown the fruit harvested. If you look at a map, you can see that the countries Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Togo are in the Western part of Africa. Shea butter extracted from these trees is commonly considered to be West African Shea Butter. The countries on the Eastern side of the hemisphere include Sudan, Cameroon, Congo, Uganda and others.
There seems to be relatively little difference between East vs West African shea butter, though some have noted some differences in either texture or in the way they help with certain ailments. Since the trees are the same, the only reason for the slight differences could be attributed to the effects of climate – for example one tree may get more sun or more water – others may have a different balanced soil or get more nutrients from the ground that can effect the quality of the butter.
Below are some characteristics to help you decide which are best for you:
Western Characteristics: Believed to be more beneficial for healing, somewhat thicker consistency, stronger unrefined shea butter scent, believed to be the most beneficial for relieving irritation due to psoriasis and eczema.
Eastern Characteristics: The main notable Eastern Characteristics are that it is easier to spread, as it tends to seem more oily that its Western cousin and unrefined or raw shea butter does not have as strong as an odor as the unrefined varieties from the West. It is believed to be helpful as a diaper rash cream. Because of its higher oil density, it is believed to also be a better moisturizer.
When it comes to deciding which African shea butter is best for you, it’s all a matter of personal preference. Both are excellent for working as a moisturizer and helping aid with skin conditions. If you simply can’t decide, we recommend trying them both initially and then determining which one you like the best.