AFRICAN BLACK SOAP FROM TOGO, WEST AFRICA
 FAIRLY
TRADED BLACK SOAP FROM AGBANGA KARITE COOPERATIVE IN
TOGO
There are more than 100 different varieties of real
African black soap. Black soap is known in West Africa
by several names, but the most common is Ose Dudu (doudoun),
which is derived from the Yoruba or Anago languages
of Nigeria, Benin and Togo. Ose Dudu means literally
Soap (ose) Black (dudu). Although referred to as 'black',
African black soap varies from a light brown to a deep
black depending on the ingredients and method of preparation.
 The
oils used to make African black soap vary by region
and include palm oil, palm kernel oil, coconut oil,
cocoa butter, and shea butter. Any combination of these
ingredients is possible and is determined based on availability
(coastal regions tend to use more coconut oil, savanna
regions use more shea butter, for example). In addition,
the potash that is used to make African black soap can
be derived from the ashes of several plant sources,
including cocoa pods, shea tree bark, plantain leaves,
and the byproducts of shea butter production. Most importantly,
authentic African black soap is made with hand-made
potash in small batches and is not manufactured in factories
with commercial potash and refined oils.
Agbanga Karite's black soap is made in small batches
following the traditional recipe of central Togo. The
potash used comes from ashes of plantain leaves, shea
butter residues and bark from a local tree called Agow.
Note that the bark is harvested in a way that does not
harm the tree.
 Agbanga
Karite black soap is original and authentic. The soap
is made in their Sokodé center in Togo, using
traditional methods and recipes.
African Black Soap from Togo is made with virgin palm
kernel oil, at least 48% unrefined shea butter and plantain
leaf ashes. All of the ingredients used are simple and
natural. This soap is the only soap used by mothers
to wash their babies.
 The
soap-making process is highly sophisticated, and requires
hand-stirring for at least a day. The soap crystalises
and it is allowed to cure for two weeks. The 'virgin'
black soap has a light brown colour and crumbly
texture.
The soap can then be further processed by melting
over direct heat with a small amount of water. During
this melting phase the texture of the soap becomes smoother
and the colour changes to a deep chocolate brown.
The melted soap is then pressed into blocks which can
be cut into bars for ease of use. No colours or preservatives
are added at any stage of the soap making process.
Our liquid black soap used to be made using the melted,
dark coloured black soap and the liquid soap resembled
melted chocolate. Because we now use the more 'virgin'
black soap, our liquid black soap is much lighter in
colour. There are no changes to the ingredients or
recipe used.
Information & images regarding
soap making supplied by Agbanga Karite & US trading
division Alaffia.
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