Shea butter
（重定向自Karite）
![Seeds of a shea tree — raw materials for oil production](/Images/godic/202501/22/Vitellaria_paradoxa_MS41950037.JPG")
![Child labourers transporting crushed Shea nuts, Jisonaayili.](/Images/godic/202501/22/Children_transporting_crushed_shea_nut0037.jpg")
![Traditional preparation of shea butter, Mali](/Images/godic/202501/22/Préparation_du_beurre_de_Karité_-_Mali0038.jpeg")
![Shea butter soap.](/Images/godic/202501/22/Shea_soap_MS_65790038.JPG")
Shea butter (/ˈʃiː/ or /ˈʃiː.ə/) is an off-white or ivory-colored fat extracted from the nut of the African shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa). Shea butter is a triglyceride (fat) derived mainly from stearic acid and oleic acid. It is widely used in cosmetics as a moisturizer, salve or lotion. Shea butter is edible and is used in food preparation in Africa. Occasionally, the chocolate industry uses shea butter mixed with other oils as a substitute for cocoa butter, although the taste is noticeably different.