All About Black Soap

African traditional black soap is one of the most healthful yet unheard of soaps you will find.

Made from dried plantain skins, palm leaves, cocoa pod powder, and kernel oil for an all-natural cleansing process. Plantains skins are largely what make this soap so effective. Plantain is a fruit that grows in Africa & South America that looks similar to a banana, except it is much larger and tastes altogether different. You can find plantains at many ethnic or international grocery stores. It is a natural source of vitamins A & E and iron. When black soap is made, the skin of the plantain is dried under the sun and then roasted in a clay oven. The heat must be constant in order to achieve the perfect brownish black color, texture & smell. Afterwards, cocoa pod powder is added. Cocoa pod is the shell of the cocoa fruit and also has natural healing properties.

The next process is very precise. The roasted plantain skin is mixed with palm and palm kernel oil to form the soap. The roasted plantains determine the color of the soap. The longer the plantains are roasted, the darker the soap.

African black soap is soft with an organic shape. It has a delicate texture and a natural, earthy smell. It is not oily, and can be used for hands, face, body and hair. It is most commonly found in Ghana, however other countries have their versions of black soap as well. Other words for black soap are Alata Samina, Anago Samina which comes from the Twi language in northern Ghana.

The benefits of black soap:
- Helps deep clean skin.
- Works on most skin types including rough and dry or sensitive skin
- Helps clear skin bumps and spots
- Helps relieve acne, oily skin & other skin problems.
- Great for removing makeup
- Works against premature facial lines and wrinkles - Can be lathered and used as a shampoo.

- From African Imports