Fruits of the shi tree (karite)

The viteoaria is amazing or the shi tree (karite) belongs to the Sapotov family. The shea tree or Vitellaria paradoxa grows mainly in the territories of such states as Mali, Guinea, Congo, Ghana, Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire. As can be judged by the distribution range of the shea tree (karite) is a fairly heat-loving plant, which is a plant with a spreading crown, which, as a rule, does not exceed 20 meters in height. Uniquely, the life cycle of the shi tree (karite) reaches a duration of several centuries.

What is even more surprising is that the shea tree begins to bloom only from the age of twenty, the fruits appear starting from the fiftieth anniversary of the plant. Then the shi tree (karite) bears fruit for more than a hundred years in a row. The fruit of the shea tree has long been used in cooking by residents of the African continent. In Europe, healing vegetable oil is extracted from the fruits of the shea tree, which has found wide application in the cosmetic industry. The fruits of the shea tree are harvested in green, not ripened form. Over time, the natural material changes its color and the fruits turn brown.

As a rule, the average size of the fruit of the shea tree does not exceed four centimeters in diameter. Inside the fruits of the shea tree is a nutritious pulp. Which in consistency resembles a cream. Inside the fruit is a large seed, from which the plant's essential oils are obtained. It is the seed of the shea tree that is rich in the content of essential oils, which are of great value to manufacturers of cosmetics. Shea butter, like the vast majority of vegetable oils, is produced in two main forms - refined and unrefined. Refined cabbage soup oil is used in cooking.

In African countries, shea butter is considered almost the only stable source of fats that are so necessary for the normal life of the human body. The non-innovative version of the product is used for the manufacture of cosmetic hair products, as well as facial and body skin. The shi tree received its original name thanks to one of the folk African names for the plant. The shi tree is called karite, kolo, kare, as well as si or si, which gave the international name arstenia. It is worth noting that the shi tree is considered sacred in Africa.

Each harvest of the first harvest of the shea tree is accompanied by a sacred ritual. It should be especially emphasized that from the first fruits of the shea tree they receive fat, which is used to make a festive treat. Vegetable oil produced from the fruits of the shea tree has a wide range of healing opportunities that have been used for hundreds of years for the benefit of mankind.