Shea
Butter
Shea butter is off-white or ivory-colored fat extracted from the
nut of the African shea tree Vitellaria paradoxa. It is a
triglyceride (fat) derived mainly from stearic acid and oleic acid.
Shea butter is widely used in cosmetics as a moisturizer, salve or
lotion. Shea butter is edible and is used in food preparation in
Africa. Occasionally, the chocolate industry uses shea butter mixed
with other oils as a substitute for cocoa butter, although the
taste is noticeably different.
