One of the most asked questions is, how is Baobab Oil made? It is really a quite simple process that we take seriously. Before we get to the process, let us learn a bit more about where Baobab Oil comes from.
About the Baobab Tree
The African Baobab is a keystone tree species of African sub-Saharan regions. Known as the “tree of life” it holds a special status and role in the traditions and livelihoods of communities across Africa. Adansonia digitata is the most common species of African Baobab and is found in 31 African countries. They are recognizable by their distinctive swollen stems. Occurring naturally in the dry areas of Madagascar, Africa and Australia, they store massive amounts of water in their stems to cope with seasonal droughts.
All parts of the tree can be used. The dry fruit pulp has many uses; one of the most popular and beneficial is in the processing of the seeds which can be cold pressed into oil that contains some of the highest nutrient qualities among other similar cold-pressed oils. In addition to the oil, the fruit pods can be made into a sherbert-like drink that is rich in Vitamin C and the hard outer shell is waterproof and can be made into a variety of domestic items such as calabashes and castanets. While both the seeds and the leaves can be eaten; the bark can be safely harvested, causing no damage to the tree then pounded out to make rope.
How Is Baobab Oil Made?
The fruit of the Baobab tree is known as a “superfruit” because of the highly enriched vitamin content of its pulp and seeds. Before the oil can be squeezed from the seeds, they must be separated from the fruit pulp and thoroughly cleaned then dried in the sun. We then cold press those seeds to make our luxurious baobab oil which is quickly becoming a highly sought after ingredient throughout the natural body care market.
Baobab Sustainability
The production of Baobab Fruit Powder uses only the fruit; the trees themselves are undamaged. Our local harvesters have for many years set the standard for best practice in Baobab harvest and fruit powder production in Africa. They manage Baobab resources tightly, mapping and recording producing trees, documenting their ages and other relevant factors. This enables them to provide accurate forecasts of production levels from year to year and to ensure harvests are conducted sustainably. All of them have implemented strategies to systematically increase the Baobab resource base.
The majority of the very poorest people live in the driest parts of the Africa. Which, coincidentally, also happens to be the areas where Baobab occurs. That is why a market for Baobab products is so incredibly valuable to people living in these areas. In southern Africa, Baobab grows in very dry areas, with rainfall of as little as 500mm (19 inches) a year (that’s why our Baobab has such a concentrated vitamin C content). It fruits in the middle of the dry season, when there is nothing else growing and very little in the way of other income earning opportunities for people.
Benefits Baobab Oil
Baobab oil has tremendous benefits on the skin due its excellent softening, healing and regenerating skincare properties. In addition, unrefined Baobab Oil is amber golden in color, quickly absorbed and carries a light pleasant scent. Cosmetic uses of the pure oil include bath oils, natural cosmetics, soaps, lotions, skin creams and high-quality massage oils due to its excellent antioxidant and solvent free properties. Baobab oil contains Vitamins A, E and D3 and is rich in Omega 3, 6, 9 essential fatty acids, and sterols. Baobab oil is also prized for its stability against rancidity and long shelf life.
Baobab oil contains:
- All the three omega fatty acids including omega 3,6 and 9
- Essential fatty acids like malvalic acids, sterculic acid, linoleic acid etc.
- Vitamins A, D, E, K and C.
Organically Africa’s Organic Baobab Oil is cold pressed from the seeds of the Baobab fruit. The newly pressed oil is immediately filtered to help clarify the oil. Our Baobab Oil has not undergone any further refinement or processing and has no additives. We are proud to say that our oil is 100% pure. This combined with our focus on promoting sustainability in both source quality and harvesting procedures makes our product a perfect natural ingredient for your body care products.