What happened to my shea?

[Stacey]

Last winter I bought a ten lb box of shea butter from Soapers Choice. It was hard as a rock. I had to chip and break it out of the box. But the texture was smooth. That ok, I figured that's how it was supposed to be.

Last week I bought a 25 lb box of shea butter from Soapers. This one is softer. Lots softer. I can scoop it out with a spatula and it's grainy.

What the..... :?: I'm 90% sure that I bought the same kind of Refined Shea butter both times. I don't have last winter's receipt with me right now to compare so I can't be 100% sure...But I'm pretty sure.

The weather obviously was a factor. I live in MN so the winters here are pretty cold. I can't remember for certain when I bought the first box but it was either Dec or Jan. And of course it's a nice toast warm summer now.

But I didn't have either shipment go to my house. I didn't want it sitting outside. I had them sent to my husband's shop.

So they are different in texture and look. Ok, no big deal. It should work the same in my recipes, right?

How do I fix that grainy-ness in the box I got now? Do I need to worry about it? I melt it for my shea butter recipe and my for soaps. Will just melting it fix it?

Thanks for the help!

 

[IrishLass]

If my own experience is any example, then there's nothing to worry about with your shea. This happens all the time to me with my mango butter if I order it in the warmer months or from certain vendors.

It sounds like your shea most likely melted in the heat while en route to you in the delivery truck and then slowly cooled back down when it got to your hubby's shop. Slow cooling of shea (and mango butter) often provides an environment for grains to form, I've noticed. You should have no probelms using it in your formulations, though. I use my grainy mango in my body butters all the time without a hitch. I melt it down, mix it into my formulation, and then cool it down quickly in the freezer right after mixing. The quick cooling helps to keep the grainies from reforming.


IrishLass

Edited to add I also use my grainy mango in my soaps without a hitch, too. I just melt it along with the rest of my hard fats as I would normally do, and then I soap away.

 

[Stacey]

Thanks Irishlass!

Rapid cooling to prevent grainy-ness. Got it. That could explain what happened with some lip balms I made. :roll:

Live and learn!
Thanks again!

 

[paillo]

ditto on thinking it's the weather. i've bought all my shea from soapers' choice. a month ago it was hard, now it's grainy and smooth -- no difference in soaping with it, i've decided it's just the temps and the season. kinda like me