Africa's shea belt stretches from Senegal to Sudan. This guide covers raw vs refined grades, women's cooperative certifications, typical purity standards, and how to source verified shea at scale.
Ghana, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Nigeria, Togo, Benin. Cooperative-grade shea concentrated in Ghana and Burkina Faso.
Raw (unrefined) retains nutritional profile, used in beauty/cosmetics. Refined (deodorized, bleached) used in food and industrial. Both are sourced through Afrikoni.
Organic (USDA, EU), Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance, Women's Cooperative-certified. Most premium buyers require organic + fair-trade combo.