What Is Cocoa Butter?

Origin

Cocoa butter is made from seeds called cacao beans, which grow on the cacao tree. Cacao trees grow in the warm, moist, tropical regions. They can be found in countries such as Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, Ghana, New Guinea, Nigeria and in the Ivory Coast. Cacao trees produce numerous brightly colored pods that can contain up to 60 cacao beans. Workers painstakingly harvest, open and gather the cacao beans from the pods by hand. Workers must then crush the cacao beans in order to remove the pale-colored fat that ultimately becomes cocoa butter.

Cocoa butter is renowned for its many distinct properties. Unlike most vegetable fats, cocoa butter is surprisingly stable. It remains solid at room temperature and yet melts at normal body temperature. Cocoa butter also has a long shelf life. The antioxidants that are found in cocoa butter enable it to remain well-preserved for up to five years. Another popular characteristic of cocoa butter is its smell. Because cocoa butter comes from the cacao bean, it retains the subtle, sweet, appetizing aroma of chocolate.

Cocoa butter serves as an effective thickening agent. As a result, it is found in many cosmetic and pharmaceutical products such as lipstick, shampoo, lip balm and various ointments. Cocoa butter is also used in numerous recipes and in the making of certain food products. The stability of cocoa butter is what enables chocolate to remain intact while in the wrapper but melt when placed in the mouth.

One of the most popular uses for cocoa butter is as a hydrating agent. Cocoa butter is prized for its ability to effectively hydrate, soften and heal dry skin. When applied to the skin, cocoa butter leaves behind a protective layer that helps shield the skin from harsh, natural elements such as wind and dry weather. As a result, cocoa butter is used in many moisturizing products such as body lotions, creams and soaps.

Using cocoa butter is an excellent way to promote healthy, hydrated skin. There are, however, many misconceptions regarding cocoa butter. Some people believe that cocoa butter can permanently erase scars and stretch marks from the skin. While it may help reduce the appearance scars and stretch marks in some people, cocoa butter has not definitively proved to remove them completely. Another common misconception is that cocoa butter can serve as a sunscreen. While cocoa butter can help relieve dryness caused by sun exposure, it does not contain SPF.