AFRICAN BLACK SOAP, 100G

Ingredients: butyrospermum parkii butter, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, aqua, cocoa pods, banana leaf How african soap is made (from website http://africaimports.com)

All natural African black soap is made from dried plantain skins, palm leaves, cocoa pod powder, and palm kernel oil for an all-natural cleansing process. Many recipes also include shea butter made from the nuts of the Karite tree. Plantains skins are largely what make this black soap so effective. They are a natural source of vitamins A & E and iron.

When black soap is made, the skin of the plantain is dried under the sun and then roasted in a clay oven. The heat must be constant in order to achieve the perfect brownish black color, texture & smell. Afterward, cocoa pod powder is added. Cocoa pod is the shell of the cocoa fruit and also has natural healing properties.

The next part of the black soap making process is very precise. The roasted plantain skin is mixed with palm and palm kernel oil to form the soap. The length and temperature at which the plantains were roasted determines the color of the soap. The longer the plantains are roasted, the darker the black soap will become when finished. The mixture is stirred for at least a day and then usually put in molds to cure for two weeks or more.

Pure traditional African black soap is a soft milled soap and has very high natural glycerin content. As a result, it readily absorbs moisture from the air. It must be stored in a dry location or in a sealed plastic bag or it will become soft as it absorbs moisture. Black soap exposed to the air will have a thin white colored film. This film is not mold it is caused by absorption of water from the air. This can be avoided by keeping the soap in a dry location away from moisture until ready for use.

Made in Ghana