In our last blog post we discussed Moringa oil and all of its wonderful health benefits. In today’s post we outline the pros and cons of 3 methods used (Aqueous Solvent & Mechanical Screw Press) to extract oil from seeds.
Of the 3, we chose to cold-press our seeds because we feel it is the best way to keep the oil in its purest form, without compromising the quality!
1) Mechanical Screw Press (Cold press)
A mechanical screw applies pressure to the oilseeds as they advance along the length of the press into a plate that crushes the seeds.
Pro: Little to no heat is applied to the seed, preserving the quality and properties of the oil. Creates a byproduct called seed meal or “cake” that is used as fertilizer and animal feed. Great yields, minimal labor.
Con: The maintenance of a screw press is challenging. Equipment parts are pricey and custom, making replacement parts scarce and expensive.
2) Liquid Solvents
Liquid chemicals such as hexane are used to separate oil from seed. After extraction, the chemical evaporates into the air and oil.
Pro: This is the most efficient technique to recover oil. It also produces the highest yields of the 3 methods.
Con: Flammable and toxic! Listed as a hazardous air pollutant, hexane is widely used for vegetable oil extraction. Some of which we unknowingly consume or use on our hair and skin!
3) Aqueous
Water extraction is the process that uses water flotation to extract oil. It involves first heating and grinding the seeds - then boiling the material in water to liberate the oil.
Pro: Etched in our memories and close to our hearts, this process is traditionally used in Haiti and Jamaica.
Con: Produces a darker, thicker oil with an acquired scent created by the ashes during the roasting process. Similar to the food we eat, when too much/unregulated heat is applied to a commodity, it compromises (kills) some of the goodness of the final product. Labor intensive and produces the lowest yields of the 3 methods.
Enjoyed this post? Check out our last blog about the wonder benefits of Moringa oil.
Until then, STAY Beautiful... Naturally!
]]>New to the cosmetic scene, this amazing oil is starting to trail-blaze its way through the industry for not only it’s countless healing benefits, but also for it’s for light consistency that naturally helps boost your skin’s elasticity.
Extracted from the seeds of the “Drumstick tree”; a fast growing - climate friendly tree, moringa trees can be found in many countries all over the world - including in southwest Haiti, where we lovingly grow ours on our 50-acre family farm.
What has Moringa oil been used for?
Moringa has been used in many different ways; ranging from perfumes to medicinal ointments to oral energy boosters. And because of its versatility, you’ll find people use it both in the kitchen and on their skin!
What can I use Moringa oil for?
Super rich in antioxidants, vitamins C, A, and E, moringa oil is packed with anti-inflammatory and anti-septic properties that help protect and hydrate your skin and hair. A very soft oil, known for its ability to heal and polish the skin, moringa oil has quickly become a favorite of those looking for a boost to their anti-aging regiment!
What Papa Rozier products use Moringa oil?
Moringa is one of our star players and we love to use it alongside our castor oil. Got a scrape you’d like to protect? We recommend our Lemongrass/Ylang Infused Moringa oil. Looking to up your lash or brow game? Try our moringa, castor & rosemary Eyelash & Brow Growth Serum. Want to add something powerful and nutritious to your daily smoothie? Give our Moringa Powder a try.
What makes our Moringa special?
We handle every part of the process, from planting the moringa trees to harvesting the seed pods. Then, we cold-press, clean, and bottle the oils at our farmhouse in Brooklyn. We only use the purest organic ingredients, allowing our moringa oil to shine without any added preservatives or dilutions.
Enjoy this post? Check out our last post about the history & wonderful uses of castor oil.
Until then, STAY Beautiful... Naturally!
]]>One of the most versitile and special natural oils is castor oil.
Castor oil is a natural oil that’s extracted from the seeds of the castor plant. Though castor plants are native to East Africa, they grow well in tropical or warm regions with moist, nutrient-rich soil. If you ask us, the BEST castor plants grow in Southwest Haiti 😊.!
What has castor oil been used for?
Historically, it was used for everything from lighting lamps to inducing labor to serving as a laxative. In fact, castor beans have even been found in ancient Egyptian tombs!
In addition to cosmetics, castor oil and its derivatives have all sorts of industrial uses, including in soap, ink, paint, and more. You’ll find traces of castor oil in high-performance motor oil and in some dyes.
What can I use castor oil for?
Because it’s rich in fatty acids, castor oil is great for moisturizing your skin or as part of your hair routine to encourage thickness and growth. It has great anti-inflammatory & healing properties, so if you’ve got bothersome joints or menstrual cramps, give our castor oil pack a try.
Which Papa Rozier products use castor oil?
Castor is one of our cornerstone oils, we use it as a base ingredient for almost everything we make. Hands feeling dry? Try our Revitalizing Hand Cream. Battling sunburn? Check out our 50/50 Castor & Moringa Blend. Or, if you’d like to keep your options open, snag a bottle of our pure, 100% Castor Oil. We’re very proud of the fruits of our farm and hope to help you STAY Beautiful... Naturally...
What makes our castor special?
We plant, grow, and harvest organic castor plants on our farm in Haiti. We then cold-press, clean, and bottle the oils at our farmhouse in Bushwick. Because we handle every part of the process, our castor oil is truly one of a kind.
[To learn more about our story and our process, check out our last blog post.]
Until then, STAY Beautiful... Naturally!
]]>For over a decade now, we have been building on this legacy with our brand. At Papa Rozier Farms our hands touch every part of the process: we grow and harvest our own organic moringa and castor seeds; then, ship them to our Farmhouse in Brooklyn, NY. Here, we cold-press, clean, and bottle our 100% pure moringa and castor oils.
For over 10 years we’ve been perfecting our products and, because we handle every, single part of the process, from farm to retail, we can promise you a few things:
To learn about how we’re doing that, check out this video.
We’re super excited for what is ahead in the new year!
Until then, STAY Beautiful... Naturally!
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