Why Ghana for shea
Northern Ghana sits in the shea belt and has a long, organised export history for both raw nuts and processed butter. That maturity means real cooperatives, established graders and exporters who understand international buyers.
Grades and what they mean
Raw shea nuts are graded on moisture, free fatty acid (FFA) levels and foreign matter. Butter is graded (commonly A–E) on colour, odour, purity and FFA. Cosmetic buyers usually want Grade A unrefined; soap and industrial buyers can accept lower grades at lower cost.
What to verify before buying
Confirm FFA and moisture with independent testing, not just a supplier's own certificate. Check the processing site and storage — shea quality degrades with poor handling. And verify the exporter's license and past shipments, as with any supplier.
Getting it right
Specify your grade and metrics in the contract, test at sampling, and inspect at loading. That's the difference between the butter you approved and a surprise on arrival.
Put this into practice
Have us verify a supplier or source for you — flat fee, 48-hour reply.
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