Cocoa Butter - Where Does it Come From?



Cacao beans are grown on Cacao trees, usually from western Africa, Central America, and South America. When I first started transitioning into using as many natural and eco-friendly products as possible, I heard a few key tips to knowing what products we should be using, and which ones we should try to avoid: 

1. Can I pronounce all of the ingredients listed on the ingredient label? 
2. Do I know what all of the ingredients are?

If you answer no to either/both of these questions, it might be worth looking into some healthier alternatives. 

As many of you know, cocoa butter is the base ingredient for our ultra-nourishing Whipped Body Butters. But, what is cocoa butter? Where does it come from? Why is it so good for us?

What is Cocoa Butter?

Cacao butter, often called cocoa butter is a plant-based fat that comes from cacao beans. 

Where does Cocoa Butter Come From?

Cacao beans are grown on Cacao trees, usually from western Africa, Central America, and South America. 

How is Cacao Butter Made?

The process of turning cacao beans into cacao butter is actually fairly simple. Cacao pods are fairly large, 8-14" long, containing 30-50 beans. The cacao beans are harvested from the cacao pods, cleaned, and then roasted. The beans will then be stripped from their shells, and crushed. Once the roasted beans are crushed, we are left with bitter cacao nibs. The nibs are then ground into a thick liquid called cocoa liquor. The cocoa liquor then gets pressed, separating the liquid from the fat. This plant-based dessert-smelling fat is cacao butter, or cocoa butter. 

The Benefits of Cocoa Butter

Now that we know what cocoa butter is, where it comes from, and how it is made, here is a list of some of my favourite things about using cocoa butter topically:

1. Creates a barrier between your skin and the world, protecting it from damage, and preventing it from drying out.
2. Contains vitamin E, which prevents scarring and reduces cellulite
3. Provides skin with incredible hydration
4. Soothes skin conditions including eczema and dermatitis
5. Speeds the healing of cracked or flaking skin
6. Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
7. Improves skin's elasticity by boosting collagen production

One of my favourite things about cocoa butter is its incredible smell. However, if the smell of irresistible chocolate is not your preference, we will soon be launching a brand new line of spring whipped body butters that still contain cocoa butter. Out team has found a way to neutralize the chocolate scent organically to enjoy the pure scents of your favourite essential oils. 

If you haven't tried our incredible body butters yet, I hope this information has encouraged you to give using all-natural cocoa butter a try. If you have given it a try, I'd love to hear about your experience!