Shea olein

Shea olein suppliers and sourcing guide

Shea olein is the liquid fraction of shea butter, the fat from the nuts of the shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa, formerly Butyrospermum parkii) of West and Central Africa. Refined shea butter is fractionated by cooling and separating the crystals: the solid part is shea stearin and the liquid part is shea olein, which is richer in oleic acid. Brands buy it as a liquid oil for cosmetics and as a food fat component.

See suppliers What to ask for on the COA

Category: Oils and fats
Also known as: Shea oil · Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Oil · Vitellaria paradoxa olein · Liquid shea
Facts checked: November 2026

Forms and grades of shea olein

Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.

Refined shea olein
Refined, bleached and deodorized liquid fraction, the main cosmetic and food grade.
Shea stearin
The solid fraction of the same process, sold separately as a hard fat for confectionery and cocoa butter equivalents.
Unrefined shea oil
Liquid fraction or oil from less-processed butter, with more odor and color.
Organic and traceable grades
Product from certified organic or women-cooperative supply chains, often with traceability documentation.

What to check on the COA

Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.

Fatty acid profile: Fatty acid composition by GC of the methyl esters (AOCS Ce 1-62 or an equivalent ISO method), reported as percent of total fatty acids; oleic acid content distinguishes olein from stearin.
Iodine value and cloud point: Iodine value and cloud point, which show how well the liquid fraction was separated.
Peroxide and anisidine values: Peroxide value (AOCS Cd 8b-90) for primary oxidation and p-anisidine value for secondary oxidation, often combined as TOTOX; these show how fresh the oil is at release.
Free fatty acids: Free fatty acids or acid value by titration (AOCS Ca 5a-40 or Cd 3d-63), which rises with poor seed handling, hydrolysis and age.
Unsaponifiable matter: Unsaponifiable matter by gravimetric method; shea is unusually high in it, and the level differs between fractions.

Storage, lots and expiry

Storage and shelf life

Store sealed at room temperature away from light; it may cloud in the cold and clears on warming. Keep out moisture to avoid hydrolysis. Shelf life is set by the supplier specification.

Lots and expiry dates

Cloud point, iodine value and color vary with the fractionation run, so record them for each lot. Rotate first-expiry, first-out.

Regulatory status

Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.

GRN 850, for olein from shea tree nut extract notified by Bunge Loders Croklaan as a replacement for animal and vegetable fats rich in palmitic, myristic and lauric acids, closed with FDA having no questions.
Source: hfpappexternal.fda.gov (opens in a new tab)
21 CFR 184.1702 describes sheanut oil from the shea tree Butyrospermum parkii and limits its use to confections and frostings, coatings of soft candy, and sweet sauces and toppings; it does not name olein fractions.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)
Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Oil as a non-medicinal skin-conditioning agent for topical use.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)

This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.

Shea olein suppliers

Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.

We are checking shea olein suppliers now

Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.

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Frequently asked questions

What forms of shea olein can brands buy?

Common forms include refined shea olein, shea stearin, unrefined shea oil and organic and traceable grades. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.

What should the COA for shea olein include?

Expect fatty acid profile, iodine value and cloud point, peroxide and anisidine values, free fatty acids and unsaponifiable matter, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.

How should shea olein be stored?

Store sealed at room temperature away from light; it may cloud in the cold and clears on warming. Keep out moisture to avoid hydrolysis. Shelf life is set by the supplier specification.

What is the regulatory status of shea olein?

GRN 850, for olein from shea tree nut extract notified by Bunge Loders Croklaan as a replacement for animal and vegetable fats rich in palmitic, myristic and lauric acids, closed with FDA having no questions. 21 CFR 184.1702 describes sheanut oil from the shea tree Butyrospermum parkii and limits its use to confections and frostings, coatings of soft candy, and sweet sauces and toppings; it does not name olein fractions. Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Oil as a non-medicinal skin-conditioning agent for topical use.

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