QUALITY COMPARISON OF SHEA BUTTER AND OLEIN IN IREPODUN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, OYO STATE

Abstract

The shea tree, its biology, and cultivation belt have been extensively studied and documented, along with methods of extraction. In West Africa, particularly in Nigeria, rural women predominantly utilize traditional methods of shea butter extraction, despite the labor-intensive nature, due to its sustained earnings. Unlike Mali and Uganda, where dry extraction methods using hydraulic or screw presses are prevalent, such techniques are rarely employed in Nigerian shea localities. While mechanical devices for drying and size reduction exist, the kneading of shea paste remains unmechanized in Nigeria. This paper explores the prevailing methods of shea butter extraction in Nigeria, highlighting the preference for traditional techniques and the limited adoption of mechanized processes