Ethically Sourced Ingredients | Handcrafted on Vancouver Island
Kperisi Village
Using Shea Butter Market products means more than experiencing pure, unrefined skincare. It means directly empowering a community of remarkable women in Northern Ghana.
The Heart of the Savannah
Located near the Burkina Faso border, northwest of Wa in Ghana's Upper West Region, sits the small village of Kperisi. During the dry season, the hot Harmattan winds blow down from the Sahara, making survival through subsistence agriculture incredibly difficult.
In this isolated, sun-drenched environment, the shea tree grows completely wild. There are no commercial plantations, no synthetic fertilizers, and no pesticides. Just an ancient, symbiotic relationship between the earth and the people who have harvested its bounty for centuries.
The "Tree to Skin" Journey
See ever step of how we source shea butter. This is the intensely laborious, beautifully traditional process of creating pure shea butter.
Wild Harvesting
Every season, dedicated women venture into the savannah to hand-gather fallen shea nuts. We never shake the trees or harvest prematurely. This patient, sustainable practice ensures the trees continue to thrive generation after generation without the use of commercial farming tactics.
Cracking the Shells
Once gathered, the outer shells are carefully cracked and husks removed by hand. The women then pound the shea pits using traditional mortars, breaking them down to prepare for the crucial roasting phase.
Roasting the Kernels
The prepared kernels are sun-dried and gently roasted in large pots over open fires. This careful roasting process unlocks the natural oils and the rich, smoky, nutty aroma that defines authentic, unrefined African shea butter.
Grinding into a Paste
The roasted nuts are taken to be finely ground. This transforms the hard roasted kernels into a thick, heavy, dark chocolate-colored paste, laying the foundation for the delicate kneading process to come.
Kneading the Mass
Water is gradually added as the women expertly knead the thick mixture by hand. This is an incredibly physically demanding, labor-intensive process that transforms the heavy paste into a smooth, creamy emulsion.
Separating the Pure Oil
The whipped paste is washed in purified water. The nutrient-dense shea oils float to the top, where they are skimmed off by hand. The oils are briefly boiled to remove moisture, then left to cool and solidify into a rich, moisturizing butter.
Shipping to Vancouver Island
The solidified pure butter is packed securely and shipped directly from Ghana to our production studio. By purchasing directly from the women of Kperisi, we ensure maximum freshness and guarantee that they are paid their full, premium wage directly.
Handcrafting the Product
In our Canadian studio, we lovingly blend this raw, unrefined shea butter with premium essential oils and botanicals. Every single jar is hand-poured and inspected, ensuring you receive maximum healing benefits directly to your skin.
The Girl Education & Micro-Credit Project
Life is especially difficult for women whose husbands have died and who still have young children to raise. Recognizing that working together would allow them to better support their families, the women of Kperisi formed a collective to identify opportunities to earn income.
Over 20 years ago, with assistance from a Peace Corp volunteer and Gifty’s family in Wa, a micro-credit program was established to help fund agricultural activities and keep young girls in school. We pay a premium price for their labor and donate 2% of sales directly to this project, helping these remarkable women build a sustainable future.