I was wondering if anyone's experienced sort of "granular" shea butter. The shea butter I ordered from WSP was great - just like you'd expect a butter to feel. However, recently, I ordered from Cibaria (it's wholesale and it's driving distance). The prices are incredible - much better. But the shea butter feels a little granular. I mean, you still scoop it out the same way and it's sort of smooth and buttery, but it is granular at the same time. It melts just fine and the soaps seem fine, but I'm wondering if I'm getting a lesser quality or if anyone knows precisely why it would be grainy? :?
granular shea butter
- Thread starter SudsyKat
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it's a matter of temperatures - some temps and temp shifts can promote the formation of a crystal structure that feels grainy. in soap it makes no difference.
in lip balms and such it matters but even super creamy stuff can go grainy... so in those I use something from The Herbarie (I think) or Lotioncrafters called ButterEZ.
but like I said, in soap graininess makes no difference at all.
in lip balms and such it matters but even super creamy stuff can go grainy... so in those I use something from The Herbarie (I think) or Lotioncrafters called ButterEZ.
but like I said, in soap graininess makes no difference at all.
MissMori
Well-Known Member
Hi Sudsy, I'm in driving distance to Cibaria as well.
Shea from different sources can be very different. It all depends on the extent of refinement.
If you are using it for soap, just melt it down and use as you normally would. In lip balms it can be a PITA. Ditto what carebear said. I use ButterEZ as well. I get it from Lotioncrafter.
Shea from different sources can be very different. It all depends on the extent of refinement.
If you are using it for soap, just melt it down and use as you normally would. In lip balms it can be a PITA. Ditto what carebear said. I use ButterEZ as well. I get it from Lotioncrafter.
Thanks so much for the input. Seems like a pretty common thing, then.
From what I can tell, butter EZ is something you use in addition to other butters and it helps to reduce graininess overall - is that right? It somehow affects the other butters?
Should I be annoyed with my supplier that I've received grainy shea? Does that mean that it's old or something?
From what I can tell, butter EZ is something you use in addition to other butters and it helps to reduce graininess overall - is that right? It somehow affects the other butters?
Should I be annoyed with my supplier that I've received grainy shea? Does that mean that it's old or something?
MissMori
Well-Known Member
SudsyKat said:
Yes, use it in addition to your other butters.
Don't be annoyed. Some shea butter is more refined than others. They all have their place. It's not necessarily old. It could be how it was stored or transported. Not saying it was done incorrectly. If it melted and then re-solidified, it had the opportunity to get grainy.
KimHartley24
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I agree with carebear... if shea butter is melted too quickly or at too high a temperature when it reforms little crystals will form. I've heard if you melt it super super slowly and let it cool slowly as well sometimes it will reform back into a creamy consistency. Even top shelf grade A++++ shea can develop crystals if it was melted improperly.
OOOOoooo - i might have to try the slowly remelting idea - it would be fun just to see what it does anyhow. And if it doesn't make a difference, I can still use the stuff I have in all my CP soap. Thanks for all you help.
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