Shea butter comes from the nuts of the shea tree, which grows across the savannah belt of Africa. In northern Uganda the tree is Vitellaria paradoxa subspecies nilotica, and the butter it gives is known worldwide as Shea Nilotica.
Softer, lighter, easier to use
Shea Nilotica has a higher proportion of liquid oils than West African shea. That makes it softer at room temperature and quicker to sink into the skin, with a mild, nutty scent.
How to recognise raw, unrefined shea
- Colour: ivory to soft cream. Bright white shea has usually been refined.
- Scent: gently nutty and earthy, never perfumed.
- Texture: soft and creamy, melting easily on warm skin.
- Label: one ingredient only, shea butter.
Ways to use it every day
- Body: apply to damp skin after bathing to seal in moisture.
- Feet and elbows: massage a thicker layer in at night.
- Lips: a tiny amount works as a natural lip balm.
- Hair: smooth through the ends, or use as a pre-wash treatment on the scalp.
- Babies: a gentle, fragrance-free option for dry patches (patch test first).
Storing shea butter
Keep it in a closed container away from direct sunlight. In Kampala's warm afternoons it may soften or melt; this does not harm it. It will set again when cool.
Choosing Ugandan shea also supports the women's groups in northern Uganda who collect and process the nuts by hand.
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