FAQs
PRODUCT QUESTIONS
ORDERING & SHIPPING
WORKING WITH GHANAIAN WOMEN
BARAKA SHEA BUTTER BUSINESs
SUBSCRIPTION
Product Questions
Are your products vegan?
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Baraka Shea Butter is naturally vegan. It is 100% hand-made from the nut (seed) of the shea tree using age-old traditions and techniques passed down through generations.
Can I eat it? Are your products edible?
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Baraka Shea Butter is exported from Ghana as a cosmetic product, not as a food product. It is the same shea butter that is used for food and cooking in the communities where it is made, but we don’t sell it as an edible product.
Do you test on animals?
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Baraka Shea Butter is never tested on animals. Never, ever, ever. We do know of customers who use it on their pets if they have skin sores or cracked paws. We have also heard from customers who use it on their horses and on their milk cow’s udders. But, never for testing, always for healing.
Does your Shea Butter have a scent?
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All Shea Butter has a scent unless it is processed and chemically de-scented (and who wants that!). Baraka Shea Butter will often have a very slight smoky smell that lingers from fires that the shea nuts are roasted on. Shea butter can get a rancid scent over time. The length of time it takes to go rancid is dependent on many things, depending especially on how well it is made. Poorly made shea butter will go rancid quickly.
What does Fair Trade Certified mean?
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All Baraka Shea Butter is Community Certified Fair Trade. This means that the women who make it meet annually to review their relationship with Baraka Shea Butter and whether or not they have been treated fairly. They review and discuss as a group and decide whether or not to let Baraka continue to use the Community Certified Fair Trade logo.
Fair treatment includes:
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Payment of a premium price above market price
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Negotiation of price and relationship as a group
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A respectful and dignified relationship with Baraka
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Support for community, family, youth, education and other priorities as identified by the women’s groups
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Plus other priorities and issues as identified by the women’s group.
You can hear see and hear the women’s group and community leaders discuss Baraka and Fair Trade in this video.
Where can I see feedback from others who have used Baraka Shea Butter?
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You can read what others say about the product and service on our website, on Google Reviews and Facebook Reviews.
How can I learn more about making Shea Butter products?
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There are a lot of DIY resources available on the internet, and we maintain a DIY Recipe site with DIY tips and recipes.
Additional Resources for Training and Information:
These sites offer programs, resources, information and support to assist with all aspects, from DIY beginners through to people wanting to create and market their own line of products.
The School of Natural SkincareHandcrafted Soap and Cosmetics Guild.
How can I use Shea Butter?
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Baraka Shea Butter can be used as is (that is how it has been traditionally used for centuries to protect hands, feet, and skin against the harsh reality of life on the edge of the Sahara Desert).
Many use shea butter as a base for making all kinds of skin and hair care products, and pet care products too. You can find additional ideas and recipes online.
We also maintain a DIY recipe site that has recipes and formulation tips.
How do you manage quality?
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There are several quality control systems and processes that work together to ensure that Baraka Shea Butter meets or exceeds the quality expectations of our customers (93% of respondents rate the quality as Great or above). Quality control starts with the women who make the shea butter. Their processes have evolved over centuries, passed down from mother to daughter, or grandmother to granddaughter, so they have a natural, built-in quality control. Because they made shea butter for their personal use long before they sold it for export, they wanted good quality shea butter for themselves.
Baraka Shea Butter has also added other processes and checkpoints including:
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A Quality Control manual and system, based on traditional practices with modern interventions such as straining the freshly melted oil before cooling and packaging. This system is inspected annually as part of the quality control review which is part of the Organic certification process.
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Every woman who makes Baraka Shea Butter is registered and must undergo a quality control training process before she begins.
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Dedicated processing and work areas designed to facilitate quality control.
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A Shea Butter expert that meets with the women every year and reviews quality control and, if warranted, runs classes to demonstrate techniques and processes. Baraka Shea Butter covers all costs for this.
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Visual inspection of each carton while it is being packed. We reject any that do not meet our requirements. Cartons are filled and weighed with our team leader present, and he inspects each one.
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We have our shipments tested by the Ghana Standards Authority for quality and safety issues before export. A copy of their Certificate of Analysis report is available on request when you order (email to request)
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And, if there are ever any quality issues (we are all human after all) we offer a 100%, no questions asked satisfaction guarantee that includes replacement or refund.
How is Shea Butter made?
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Baraka Shea Butter is pure, unrefined and hand-crafted using age-old techniques passed down through generations.You can see an animated infographic on the Baraka Shea Butter process here. Not all shea butter is made this way. Much of the shea butter on the market and used in cosmetics and skin care products is made using chemicals and harsh mechanical processes and often ‘refined.’
What is your Organic Certification?
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Baraka’s products are produced (grown, harvested, processed, handled, etc.) without the use of pesticides, herbicides, chemicals or solvents. They are processed and stored in organically certifiable facilities and generally meet all relevant organic certification requirements.
They are tested at an ISO Certified Facility and analyzed for non-organic ingredients such as pesticides, herbicides, solvents, etc. Test results are available upon request.
What are the benefits of using shea butter in skincare products?
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Wow! This answer could take a book, or more, to fully respond to. There are so many.
But, regulations and laws kick in and there isn’t a lot we can say here. But, just google “Benefits and uses of shea butter” and you will see what others say.
If you read our reviews on Google and Facebook you will see what others have to say as well.
What is the shelf life or expiration date of Baraka Shea Butter?
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Shea Butter will still be good quality and very usable even after five years of stored in reasonable conditions (cool, dark, etc.). But we set shorter times for Best Before.
To be on the safe side, we set a shelf life of two years from when the women make it. The shelf life when you receive it will be at least 12 months.
We did once have a customer contact us five years after they purchased shea butter to tell us that they thought it had gone rancid. They had stored it in a damp place all that time.
We replaced it, including shipping, because we stand behind Baraka Shea Butter 100%.
What will happen if my shea butter sits out in extreme temperatures until I arrive home?
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It will be nice and creamy and buttery! That is if you get home in a day or two or even a week. If you didn’t plan to be home for a few years you should probably arrange cool, dark storage for it. The reality is that Shea Butter is produced in areas where the temperature is often VERY HOT and it does just fine. It isn’t good to subject it to long periods of intense heat but a day or two, or three, isn’t a big deal. And, when it is very warm, it is creamier and butterier (my computer says Butterier isn’t a word, but I am sure you know what I mean).
Why is my shea butter not pure white in colour?
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If you think shea butter has to be snow white and hard, then you are thinking of refined shea butter. Baraka Shea Butter is pure, unrefined and traditionally made, using no chemicals, processes or destructive processes. The color will vary from a buttery yellow to an ivory/off-white colour. The colour is dependent on several factors including rains and climate during the growing season, mineral makeup of the soil, whether it is nuts from the very first fruits or later fruits in the harvest and, I’m sure, other things that we don’t know about. We do know that whatever the specific colour of your Baraka Shea Butter, it is the natural colour that nature meant it to be.We know that some producers add yellow food colouring to try and get a consistent yellow colour. Of course, we don’t do that. If someone is advertising colour consistency in their shea butter, you may want to ask how they can make that claim unless they add something to it.As for pure white… Pure white shea butter is processed and de-scented, often with harmful chemicals. This process not only sounds horrid, but it also takes away many of the special healing and restorative powers that Baraka Shea Butter has because of the traditional and natural way it is processed.
Why does my shea butter smell smoky?
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Shea smells smoky? Then it must be fresh! Hand-crafted shea butter is roasted over a fire and is finished with heat from a wood fire to release all the oils. Sometimes, depending on the wind, the shea will take on a bit of a smoky smell. This normally dissipates naturally after a few months (sometimes a faint, smoky odour will remain). So, if you have shea that smells a bit smokier than you would expect it likely means that it is very fresh and the smoky smell hasn’t yet had time to dissipate.
If you leave your shea opened for a few days the smoky smell should quickly dissipate.
I don’t see the answer to my question here. How can I get an answer?
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Do you have additional or other questions about shea butter? Email them to us or suggest others we could include here.
Ordering & Shipping
BC Sales Tax (PST)
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BC Sales tax is automatically charged on all shipments delivered anywhere in BC and on local pickup orders.
If you are BC Tax (PST Exempt), please email us, and we will send you the PST Exempt ordering link. If you also want to pick your order up from the warehouse, please let us know in the email.
Can I add to or cancel my order?
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We will accommodate whenever we can, but this is an area where our immediate shipping policy works against us. If your order hasn’t left, we will do everything we can to change it or cancel it and refund your money.
If it has left already, please email us, and we will do all we can to accommodate you.
Can I pick my order up myself?
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Yes. We offer pickup from our warehouse in Duncan, BC. To order for local pickup you need to use this link.
If you have already been to the website and have products in your cart, you will need to empty your cart and refresh your browser before the link will work.
Do you offer a sample size?
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We have sizes ranging from 250 gram Shea Butter bags to 27kg cartons of shea.
We recommend just ordering what you want. You have no risk whatsoever if you want to just order the amount you think you want to use. If you get the product and don’t like it just let us know and we will replace or refund. No questions asked. Ever.
We stand behind our product 100%, no questions asked. If you are unhappy in any way just let us know and we will make it right. No questions asked. Ever.
Can I use a Freight Forwarder?
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If you want to use a freight forwarder, you can have your order shipped to them, or we can work with you to have them pick it up from us. If you have any questions just email us.
How is Baraka Shea Butter packaged?
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Baraka Shea Butter is packed directly into BPA free, plastic lined cartons in Ghana by the women who make it. They leave a handprint on top of the carton before it is sealed and their producer number is recorded on the carton.
It literally goes from their hands to yours. It is packed in three different carton sizes (small, medium and large [6kg, 18kg, and 25kg]).
We often deliberately overfill or underfill the cartons to give additional ordering options so you may see different sizes on our website. And, we combine them so if you order 12kgs you are likely to get 2 x 6kg cartons.
We have also created a consumer package, designed for the DIY market. This is repackaged at our facility in Canada and sells in 250gram and 500gram sizes. You will find this in an increasing variety of stores.
How quickly will my order arrive?
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The short answer is as quickly as possible. We want you to have it so you can start using it (and the sooner you start using it, the sooner you can order more!)
The practical reality is that we try to ship next business day, even on orders received in the evening. Sometimes we can ship same day on orders received early.
You should receive a notice with tracking information when it ships. If you don’t, please contact us, and we will send it to you.
Most of our shipping is done with the Post Office and FedEx Ground. Faster shipping options are available on the website, and you have the option to chose them.
Can I get copies of your MSDS, Lot Numbers, and other documentation?
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We maintain a full complement of product documentation, information, and certificates including MSDS sheets, lot and batch numbers, organic and fair trade certificates, certificates of analysis, etc.
If you want any of these, please note on your order and send an email to request exactly what you want.
What forms of payment do you accept?
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Our website accepts most payment forms including e-transfers. If you have a payment type you would like to use, and the website doesn’t accept it please email, and we will see if we can accommodate you.
What are your shipping rates?
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We have flat rate shipping in continental North America (everywhere except for Hawaii and Alaska). One rate for Canada and one for the USA. That is a subsidized rate where we pay about 35% of the average shipping cost.
If you want faster shipping by air, you can select that at checkout.
For international orders, we use Canada Post and DHL. You can see the cost and select between the two at checkout.
What currency is used on your website?
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The Website prices are currently show in USD$.
Your credit card company will bill you in whatever currency your credit card is in.
What should I do if I’m not happy with my order?
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We stand behind our product 100%, no questions asked. If you are unhappy in any way just let us know and we will make it right. No questions asked.
If you are unhappy, we will also try to find where/if we went wrong and how we can improve. Our satisfaction ratings for Baraka Shea Butter and the service that our team provides are off the charts positive.
When we have someone who isn’t happy we want to know, and we want to do what we can to make it right for them and to make sure we fix anything we can.
If you are ever unsatisfied in any way, with our product or our service, please, please, let us know. If you know of anyone who is unsatisfied, please ask them to let us know or send us their contact information, and our Managing Director, Wayne, will personally follow up.
I don’t see the answer to my question here. How can I get an answer?
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Do you have additional or other questions about shea butter? Email them to us or suggest others we could include here.
WORKING WITH GHANAIAN WOMEN
How often do you visit the women and communities in Ghana?
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Baraka has a full-time presence in northern Ghana with our local team.
I (Wayne) am in Ghana several times a year and spend as much time as I can in the communities where we work and with the people we work with.
If you want to see information and videos on the women, families, and communities in the north, you can follow us on social media (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest)
Do you have videos about making shea butter, the women, community, and life in their communities?
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We regularly post videos to our FaceBook page and have a Baraka Channel on YouTube with short videos about making shea butter, women, families, education, environment, community life and more.We’d welcome any feedback you have or requests for specific videos.
Is it possible for me to visit the women who make Baraka Shea Butter?
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Yes, of course. We would be happy to facilitate that.
We have actually led a few visits to the community: a customer group, a group of development students and others.
We have been asked about organizing a visit and making seats available and are considering that. It would likely be a 10-day visit that would include a visit to the women who make Baraka Shea Butter, a visit with a group of women who make Bolga Baskets and a range of cultural and touristic experiences.
We are not taking sign-ups now but watch our newsletter and Facebook page if you are interested. We will announce it there.
Where can I learn more about the women who you work with?
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We love it when people ask this question! We try and share as much information as possible. Here is where you can find additional information, as well as sign up to keep getting new information:
How do you ensure that the women you work with in Ghana are treated fairly and reimbursed properly for their work?
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All Baraka Shea Butter is Community Certified Fair Trade.
This means that the women who make it meet annually to review their relationship with Baraka Shea Butter and whether or not they have been treated fairly.
They review and discuss as a group and decide whether or not to let Baraka use the Community Certified Fair Trade logo.
Fair treatment includes:
•
Payment of a premium price above market price
•
Negotiation of price and relationship as a group
•
A respectful and dignified relationship with Baraka
•
Support for community, family, youth, education and other priorities as identified by the women’s groups
•
Plus other priorities and issues as identified by the women’s group.
You can hear see and hear the women’s group and community leaders discuss Baraka and Fair Trade in this video.
I don’t see the answer to my question here. How can I get an answer?
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Do you have additional or other questions about shea butter? Email them to us or suggest others we could include here.
BARAKA SHEA BUTTER BUSINESs
Are you a Ghanaian business?
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Baraka Shea Butter is a Canadian business but has 50% Ghanaian ownership and has had a close connection to Ghana since it was created.
Baraka operates a Ghanaian registered company for its work in Ghana.
Contact Us
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The best way to contact us is by email (info@barakasheabutter.com) You can also reach us by phone (+1.855.929.7639), message us on Facebook, WhatsApp (+1.250.701.6088) or you can call/text Wayne directly on his mobile* (+1.250.701.6088)
*Note: When Wayne is in Africa he may be a bit slow on responding to calls/texts. He is very fast on email.
Environmental Pledge
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Click here to view our Environmental Pledge.
Privacy Policy
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Click here to view our Privacy Policy.
SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals)
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Click here to learn more about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Social Responsibility
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Baraka Shea Butter was founded on the belief that business should create profit for the owners, create value for the entire value chain, from producers through to end-users, create value and impact in the communities where we work and be effective stewards of the environment.
We don’t do this out of a sense of obligation, or because we are forced. We do it because we believe it is smart business in so many ways.
To learn more about our thinking on this, you can read the blogs below and check out the CSR Training Institute an impact organization founded and run by Baraka’s Founder and Managing Director.
Where are you located?
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Baraka Shea Butter operates from the beautiful Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island in Canada and Wa in northern Ghana. Our warehouse is located at 4432 Howie Road, Duncan, BC, Canada, and our offices at 2457 Bakerview Road, Mill Bay, BC, Canada.If you are in the neighborhood let us know. We would love to meet you.
Wishlist / other questions?
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What other questions do you have about our business and our work? Email them to us and suggest others we could include here.
Subscriptions
How do I update/cancel my subscription?
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If you would like to update/cancel your subscription, please follow the below steps:
1. Log into your account here
2. Once logged in, you will see an option to view your subscription
3. Here you will be directed to a landing page with your subscription details
4. Click "See more details"
5. Here you will have the option to update the QTY, SIZE, ORDER FREQUENCY, SKIP OR CANCEL
If you are still having issues, please get in contact with our customer service team here.
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