Shea Nut Image Credit: http://www.agroeco.nl/

Our bulk shea butter is a form of vegetable fat that is derived from the fruit of the shea tree, which is distantly related to the macadamia, apple and the maple. Also known as the karite tree, the shea is indigenous to savanna regions of Central Africa; its range stretches in a wide belt stretching from the shores of the Atlantic and the Gulf of Guinea to the Ethiopian Highlands.

Where It Comes From

Organic shea butter is extracted from a seed that is found within a fruit that is approximately the size and shape of a plum. This fruit contains a tart, highly-nourishing pulp that is an important food source for people living in these regions. At the center of the fruit is a large seed, which is rich in the oil that is eventually processed into bulk shea butter.

The shea tree itself takes about twenty years to reach maturity, and reaches its prime bearing stage around age fifty. Under normal conditions, a shea tree will continue to produce fruit for over two centuries.

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In ancient times, spices of all kinds were literally as valuable as gold; derived from plants in remote parts of the world, they had to be transported by pack animal and sailing ship to their destinations. Obtaining spices was an arduous and often dangerous enterprise.

History

Today, most of the world’s most popular spices are fairly inexpensive, but one has remained incredibly valuable: saffron. Derived from a species of crocus that originated in the arid regions of the eastern Mediterranean, saffron has been domesticated since the Bronze Age; it was valued among the Minoans of pre-Hellenic Crete, who used it as a medication. Saffron crocuses have also been used as an ingredient in perfume and as a pigment. Princess Cleopatra, the last Ptolemaic ruler of Egypt (and arguably the world’s most infamous hedonist), reportedly used saffron in her bathwater as an aphrodisiac. In the Indian state of Karnataka, adherents of the Jain religion anoint a large statue with saffron paste during the Festival of the Bhagwan Bahubali. In Europe during medieval times, a merchant found guilty of “cuttingâ€� saffron with other cheaper ingredients could be put to death.

Still As Valuable as Gold

Now, consider that even today, saffron commands a price of between $450 and $500 an ounce. The reason is that the cultivation, harvesting and processing of saffron is extremely labor intensive; it requires a field of crocuses the size of a football field and forty hours of labor to produce one pound of saffron.

Most of the world’s saffron is produced in Iran and and southern Spain; a small amount is grown and processed in the U.S.

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Natural Carrier Oils Have Many Uses

Sometimes called “base oils,” organic carrier oils are simply non-animal oils (from vegetable or mineral sources) that are used to “carry” essential oils and other extracts used for therapeutic or culinary purposes. Bulk carrier oils are infused with herbal ingredients or used to dilute an essential oil such as cedar or eucalyptus. The reason for this is that if used in their pure form, some herbal extracts and essential oils can be irritating to the skin or nose or overpower the taste of a dish.

What’s The Difference Between Natural Carrier Oils?

The best organic carrier oils are cold-pressed from seeds. Sweet almond carrier oil is among the most popular, with jojoba carrier oil running a close second. Nut oils such as those derived from walnut, pecan and macadamia are also popular natural carrier oils.

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Many of our readers enjoyed the article on using soapnut berries as an eco laundry substitute.

We wanted to pass along some other great ideas from our friend’s at Herbal Recipe Journal. Enjoy these All Natural Cleaners for the Home and Recipes for Natural Cleaning products. Now you can replace those chemicals!

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We enjoyed this selection of organic fall and winter recipe delights from Yankee Harvest and wanted to pass these organic recipes along to our readers. Remember to look to Starwest for your selection of the finest organic culinary spices. We are a certified organic herbs processor and carry a fantastic selection of organic herbs and organic spices for all of you cooking needs.

Yankee Harvest Organic Kitchen Recipes >>

Spice rubs are unique in that while there are many different ways to add spices to food, before, during and after cooking, spices are most effective when added prior to the cooking process. The most popular way to do this is by allowing the food to marinate in spices mixed with some kind of liquid, such as olive oil, citrus juice or wine. Another delicious to add extra flair to your cooking methods are to use a spice rub.

What are Spice Rubs

A spice rub is really quite simple; it is nothing more than a mixture of spices and herbs that are literally “rubbed� on to the surface of the food before it is cooked. One of the oldest and most common spice rubs is coarsely-ground black pepper.

For Spice rubs, the grind is important; unlike table spices and those added during sautéing or boiling, these spices are of either of a fairly coarse grind or simply crushed. Spice rub may be applied to the food several hours prior to cooking in order to impart the flavors; it may be left on during the cooking process or removed just prior to applying heat.

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A recent news article from local ABC news station WLS-TV in Chicago announced earlier this year that Dr. Marcia Schurer a 56-year-old woman lost 35 pounds – 20 percent of her weight – four years ago and has kept it off ever since. The secret in her success lies in a low fat diet. This is the entire recipe for Grilled Chicken with Chili Spice Rub they share.

For those who want to purchase pre-mixed spices and seasoning blends Starwest also offers a selection of all natural organic rubs including Organic Mediterranean Seafood Rub, , Organic Savory Beef Rub, and Organic Roasted Pork Rub. Starwest all-natural rubs are each made from a delicious combination of certified organic spices, seasonings, and herbs that add unique flavor to meat, seafood and vegetables.

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Bulk natural oils are used in all manner of skin and hair care products, as well as for cooking. Some bulk natural oils can also be used as carrier oils, which means they are combined with other ingredients to create a massage oil or other types of body oils. They are available in a wide variety, including Apricot Kernel, Coconut, Grapeseed oil, Olive, Sesame, Jojoba, Lanolin and several others.

Apricot Kernel oil is one of the natural oils for skin care. Apricot Kernel oil is very moisturizing, and thus is a common ingredient in cosmetics and in shampoos and conditioners to moisturize the scalp.

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