Cultivation Projects
Shea Butter from Burkina Faso
Holy tree of the savannah: the shea tree
Small by the standards of its native country, the gnarled shea tree grows to a height of 10 to 15 metres and is part of the natural vegetation in a belt about 300 km wide extending from Mali through Burkina Faso to Ghana, Togo and Benin. This "shea belt" is the only place in the world where this tree thrives. The lactiferous tree with its leathery leaves does not flower until it is 20 years old and only reaches maximum productive capacity at the age of 30 years, then remaining fully productive for more than 100 years. The plum-shaped fruits, which become green when they ripen, have a diameter of up to 4 cm. The soft green outer skin is a popular food. With their fat content of up to 50% the kernels (nuts) are a sought-after and traditional source of fat for skin care and cooking in Burkina Faso. Because of its great importance, the shea tree is considered by the native population to be a holy tree and its felling is not allowed.
