Tammie Umbel, Shea Terra’s founder, has been exploring remote villages throughout Africa for the rarest, power-packed ingredients on the planet since 2000. Shea Terra works with indigenous tribes to discover these potent ancestral plants and minerals and offers these Superhero Ingredients through our concentrated formulas.

Baobab

Referred to in Africa as the Tree of Life, and growing over a thousand years old, there is no wonder why natives travel at length to gather the sacred fruits of the baobab tree. Rich in the amino acid lysine, this amazing oil does a lot of things that we are not able to say. Try it on rough skin, varicose veins and more. Saturated with vitamins and omegas six and nine, baobab oil magically transforms skin in just weeks. This is the must have oil for dry, aging skin and uncontrollable hair.

Shea Nilotik’ Shea Butter

Cold pressed, never boiled, this rare East African shea butter is much creamier and softer than its West African sister. The nuts of this differing species produces a butter that is higher in olein and tocopherols. This unrefined butter is exceptional for aging skin and after sun care. Unlike West African shea butter, which can build up in hair, Shea Nilotik’ Shea Butter is also ideal for damaged hair.

Since 2000, Shea Terra has been on a quest for natural beauty wisdom throughout Africa, exploring remote villages, trekking through miles of desert on camel back, and sailing into the depths of Nubia. Our journey has allowed us to tap into a wealth of indigenous knowledge and share these remote beauty secrets with the world. Through our diverse line of skin and hair care products, you can embark on this journey of beauty wisdom with us.

The Legendary Tree of Life

Baobab, also known as “The Tree of Life” or “Monkey Bread” is an existential part of African life. Its tree and fruits have been used as medicinefor centuries. Not only is the fruit a delicious citrus treat, the seeds are often used as vitamin supplements in powder form. Baobab has probiotic effects, which help build and maintain the human body’s immune system. The leaves are eaten as vegetables to aid digestion. Compared to other popular sources of nutrition like oranges, bananas and berries, the baobab fares better when it comes to its remarkable amount of nutrients such as Vitamin C, potassium and antioxidants.

Baobab comes from the Arabic “Bu hibab” which means “fruit with many seeds”. The monkey-bread tree grows primarily in Africa. Its high importance in the country’s economy and day-to-day life is paid homage to through its symbol in the coat of arms of the African state of Senegal.

It is not called “The Tree of Life” for nothing. Both animals and humans depend on the baobab. Apart from food and medicine, the plant is also used as raw material for the production of clothes and other everyday objects such as rooftops, boxes, paper, baskets, nets and ropes. It is also used in making jewelry. Villagers actually decide if a location is suitable to live in if there are baobab plants within vicinity, and they go as far as making relocation decisions if their baobab dies and there are no other plants nearby. I guess you can say their life depended on it.

Shea Terra is founded by Tammie Umbel, an enterprising super mom, who built the company while homeschooling 14 of her children. Shea Terra grew out of Tammie’s vision to develop natural skin care treatments that would not only heal and beautify those who use them, but also empower and enrich the lives of many impoverished villages and families throughout Africa.

Since early 2000, Shea Terra Organics has been working with cooperatives and conservation groups to source natural, organic ingredients in a sustainable and ethical way that would create economic opportunities and preserve wildlife. We share these indigenous, time-tested healing ingredients through our breadth of product lines, which include facial care, body treatments, hair herbals and maternity & newborn remedies.