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  • What is a shea nut kernel?
  • The kernel is the oil-bearing material that can be obtained by processing the shea nut fruit. The fruit primarily undergoes several processes - de-pulping, boiling, drying, deshelling, winnowing and sorting - to obtain the kernel from which the shea butter is extracted. Mechanical processing technology
  • Where are shea nuts produced in Burkina Faso?
  • The Sissili and Ziro provinces are the most important production centres. Further, shea nuts are the country’s third most important export after cotton and livestock. Since both shea nuts and shea butter are exported in huge quantities from Burkina Faso, their quality is extremely important.
  • Do Shea nuts need to be roasted?
  • The kernels, too, are either sun-dried or roasted to eliminate any residual moisture. Alternatively, the shea nuts can be oven-roasted or smoked to dry them out; however, this method has its risks, like increasing the carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in the extracted shea butter.
  • How are shea nuts processed?
  • Subsequently, the nuts are processed by boiling, roasting, or sun-drying. Boiling in water prevents the shea seeds from germinating and prevents hydrolytic degradation of the extracted shea butter. The boiled shea nuts are sun-dried, and then the dried shea nuts are cracked to obtain the kernels.
  • What is the mechanical press method of shea butter extraction?
  • The mechanical press method of shea butter extraction has been reported by FAO and CFC (2002) but one of the earliest research on the use of the mechanical press was by Marchand (1988). His research revealed that equipped with a jack that exerts 30 tonnes of force, a shea butter press could crush more than 3 kg of shea kernels within 20 minutes.
  • Why do Shea nuts need to be boiled?
  • Boiling in water prevents the shea seeds from germinating and prevents hydrolytic degradation of the extracted shea butter. The boiled shea nuts are sun-dried, and then the dried shea nuts are cracked to obtain the kernels. The kernels, too, are either sun-dried or roasted to eliminate any residual moisture.