Our tamanu oil is extracted traditionally via cold pressing the tamanu nuts. Those nuts have to be cured under the sun for at least a month for it to produce oils. Commercialized tamanu oil is often extracted chemically via hexane because it’s quicker, inexpensive & able to extract more oils compared to the traditional cold pressed method. Hence, it’s generally very much cheaper. But this method will leave some hexane in the oils & may be harmful instead.
Our widely popular tamanu oil originated from the coastal Vohibola Forest in Madagascar. Although tamanu tree can be grown inland but based on tradition, tamanu trees that grow on coastal, sandy soil produces the highest quality oil. Madagascar’s environment is one of the cleanest in the world. Heavy metal, toxins & other pollutant are rarely found in Madagascar as it is an underdeveloped nation. Additionally, most Madagascan farmers uses traditional farming methods without chemical fertilizer, pesticides & herbicides because they cannot afford modern farming. Hence, the plants there are grown organically by default which leads to superior quality harvest.
However, due to deforestation, the Vohibola Forest is now one of the last piece of pristine coastal forest left in Madagascar. For over 85 million years, the wildlife of Madagascar evolved in isolation from the rest of the world, making it one of the most biodiversified place in the world with unique subspecies of plants & animals. It is most certainly a botanical treasure house with its own unique species of superior tamanu trees.
Therefore, by purchasing Shea Terra’s tamanu oil, you are not only getting a premium quality & highly effective oil. You are also helping to preserve this last piece of botanical treasure house. There are a lot of people’s livelihood which heavily dependent on this pristine forest.
