Kokum butter is renowned for its hydrating properties. This butter is made from the seeds of a fruit called kokum. It is similar to shea butter and cocoa butter but better. It is packed with essential fatty acids that are said to help slow down aging. The rich nourishing properties of kokum butter moisturize, soften, and protect dry skin, hair, and lips. Learn more about the benefits of kokum butter for your health and how to use it in this article.
In This Article
What Is Kokum Butter?
Kokum butter is the oil obtained from the seeds of Indian mangosteen or kokum (Garcinia indica). Kokum is a native plant of the western coastal areas of India.
These dark purple tropical fruits are spherical and have edible pulp. Each fruit contains 5 to 8 brown seeds. The seeds are rich in fats and essential fatty acids. Kokum butter is the fat contained in the kokum seed, which remains solid at room temperature.
Kokum butter varies in color from grayish-white to white with a yellowish tinge. The yellowish raw kokum butter needs to be refined to become white. When it ages or becomes rancid, it turns brown. Its scent is very faint or absent. It is mildly flavored and edible and has a shelf life of about one year.
Kokum butter is produced through a lengthy process. First, sun-dried seeds are chopped and boiled in water. Next, the oily upper layer is collected in a different container. As the fat cools, it becomes solid and is subsequently cleaned by remelting and filtering (1).
The moisturizing properties of kokum butter make it ideal for a wide range of cosmetic applications. It is also edible and is used as a butter or cocoa butter substitute. All of this is made possible by its high fatty acid content.
Check out the composition of kokum butter in the next section.
Composition Of Kokum Butter
The major fatty acids present in kokum butter are (2):
| Fatty Acid | Percentage (%) Content |
|---|---|
| Palmitic acid | 2 |
| Stearic acid | 49 |
| Oleic acid | 49 |
It also contains the following fatty acids (3):
| Fatty Acid | Percentage (%) Content |
|---|---|
| Palmitic acid | 3.25 |
| Stearic acid | 49.33 |
| Elaidic acid | 3.00 |
| Oleic acid | 34.42 |
| Linoleic acid | 5.25 |
| Arachidic acid | 1.20 |
| Eicosenoic acid | 2.25 |
| Other fatty acids | 2.30 |
Palmitic acid is a natural surfactant that is excellent for skin nourishment. The butter’s high oleic acid content makes it less likely to spoil so that it can be stored for longer periods (3).
These fatty acids, along with kokum butter’s antioxidant properties and vitamin E content, make it a popular ingredient in cosmetics, hair conditioners, soaps, and shampoos. Learn more about the benefits of kokum butter for your skin, hair, and health in the next section.
According to ancient Ayurvedic texts, kokum butter was used to treat ear infections, reduce pain caused by arthritis, prevent infections, and treat sores.
Potential Benefits Of Kokum Butter
1. Moisturizes The Skin
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Kokum butter has excellent emollient properties. In addition, its healthy fatty acids improve the moisture barrier of the skin. Maintaining a healthy barrier on your skin is key to keeping it supple and hydrated (4).
Kokum butter is also said to protect your skin from cell damage and restore its elasticity. Hence, it is used in a variety of cosmetic products, such as lotions, creams, lip balms, and soaps (4).
Related: 10 Effective Ways To Moisturize Your Skin NaturallyStylecraze SaysKokum butter is readily absorbed by the skin and does not leave a greasy residue after application. It also does not have a strong scent, which is a major reason why it is preferred over other plant butters.
2. May Heal Wounds
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A study conducted in India found that applying kokum butter to cracked heels helps to heal them (5).
Kokum butter is also believed to have wound-healing properties and to be helpful in treating ulcers, fissured lips, chapped skin, and inflammatory sores (6).
3. May Reduce Inflammation
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Kokum butter is regarded as a demulcent, i.e., it relieves inflammation or irritation. While there is limited scientific evidence available, it has found many applications in skin and hair products, acne products, and skin tonics (7).
Related: Skin Inflammation: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, And Treatment
4. Soothes The Skin
Kokum butter heals and soothes inflamed skin. It provides excellent relief from burns, chafed skin, and scalds (8).
Applying this butter makes your skin soft and supple and gives it a radiant glow due to its elasticity-restoring properties. It has a light texture, and it does not clog pores, so it prevents acne. Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties help maintain healthy skin (7), (8).
5. Has A High Melting Point
Compared to other kinds of butter, kokum butter has a higher melting point. Since it slightly melts at skin temperature, it is the perfect material for lipsticks and balms (8).
6. Can Be Used In Confectionery
You can substitute kokum butter for cocoa butter in recipes that call for it.
It has been reported that kokum butter can be used instead of cocoa butter in chocolates. Various proportions of kokum fat are added to dark and milk chocolate formulations in place of cocoa butter. As kokum fat is added to chocolate, its hardness increases. A high level of fatty acid concentration, combined with its solidification properties, makes it a perfect confectionary fat (9).
Since kokum butter has a high melting point (40°C), it can be used to increase chocolate’s heat resistance and hardness in combination with cocoa butter. In countries with hot climates, it helps prevent chocolate from becoming soft and losing its consistency due to heat (9).
7. Traditional Medicine
Kokum butter is traditionally used as a medicine in treating dysentery, diarrhea, tuberculosis, and scorbutic (scurvy-related) diseases (5).
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It is not widely known what health benefits kokum butter offers due to its limited availability. It is typically used as a potent moisturizer with wound-healing properties. So, let’s check out how to make the most of this nourishing plant butter.
How To Use Kokum Butter
1. Hair
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Hair treatments with kokum butter may help strengthen the hair follicles and encourage healthy hair growth.
Related: 12 Natural Home Remedies For Hair Growth And Thickness
How To Use
- Hair Mask: Massage your scalp in a circular motion with a small amount of kokum butter after sectioning off your hair.
- Pre-shampoo Treatment: Brush kokum butter through your hair and leave it on for about an hour before shampooing.
You can use kokum butter as a nightly scalp treatment. For additional benefits, blend it with coconut oil or any oil of your choice.
2. Skin
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Kokum butter is a lightweight and non-comedogenic moisturizer that works wonders on dry, chapped, and irritated skin.
How To Use
- Body Butter: Melt 3 tablespoons of kokum butter and whip it. Add a few drops of jojoba or apricot oil and apply it to the skin.
- Face Mask: Mix 2 tablespoons of kokum butter (melted and whipped), aloe vera gel, and any carrier oil of your choice. Apply it on the face and neck and wash it off after 15 minutes.
- Chapped Lips: Apply a little dab of kokum butter twice a day to maintain the softness and smoothness of your lips.
You can also use kokum butter to make soap, lotion, and conditioner at home. However, don’t use more than 5% of kokum butter in your formulations.
3. Food
Kokum butter is a great substitute for cocoa butter. It has no distinct taste and aroma, so it can be added to any confectionery without overpowering it.
The uses of kokum butter are similar to those of cocoa butter and shea butter. Shea butter provides a similar range of benefits as kokum butter. So, which one is better, shea butter or kokum butter? Find out in the next section.
Kokum Butter Vs. Shea Butter
- DIY-friendly: Kokum butter is odorless, has a higher melting point, and is firmer than shea butter. As a result, you can use it to make DIY cosmetics, such as balms and soaps, more easily than shea butter.
- Scientifically Backed: Although both kinds of butter offer similar benefits, shea butter’s properties are supported by scientific research. The benefits of kokum butter are still being studied.
- Nutrient Profile: Kokum butter is not as nutrient-dense as shea butter.
- Availability: Shea butter is much cheaper and easier to obtain than kokum butter.
When taking all the above points into account, shea butter has a slight edge over kokum butter.
Side Effects Of Kokum Butter
There are no known side effects of applying kokum butter to the skin. However, it is recommended that you conduct a patch test on your arm before applying it to your face.
The Bottom Line
Kokum butter is the fat extracted from the seeds of the tropical Indian fruit, kokum. Wound healing and intense hydration are the two best reasons for using kokum butter. It can also treat dry skin, hair, and scalp issues. It works similarly to other plant-based fats, such as cocoa butter and shea butter. While kokum butter is safe to use for most people, consult your healthcare provider before you start using it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are people allergic to kokum butter?
Kokum butter may cause allergies in people who are extremely sensitive to nuts. As a result, perform a patch test on your arm before applying it to your face.
Is kokum good for eczema?
Anecdotal evidence suggests that kokum butter’s potent anti-inflammatory properties may help relieve eczema symptoms. However, no empirical evidence supports the claims.
Key Takeaways
- Kokum butter is majorly composed of palmitic acid, stearic acid, and oleic acid.
- This plant butter moisturizes and soothes the skin and reduces inflammation.
- Kokum butter has a high melting point, making it a good substitute for cocoa butter in the preparation of chocolate and other confectionery items.
Sources
Articles on StyleCraze are backed by verified information from peer-reviewed and academic research papers, reputed organizations, research institutions, and medical associations to ensure accuracy and relevance. Read our editorial policy to learn more.
- Kokum Butter
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-30314-3_62 - Heat-resistant cocoa butter extenders from mahua (Madhuca latifolia) and kokum (Garcinia indica) fats
https://aocs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1007/s11746-999-0180-6 - A COMPARISON ON THE PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF SEEDBUTTERS OF SELECTED INDIAN GARCINIA SPP.
https://www.mutagens.co.in/jgb/vol.03/6/01.pdf - Emerging role of Garcinol, the antioxidant chalcone from Garcinia indica Choisy and its synthetic analogs
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC2743703/ - Clinical efficacy of Vrukshamla Beeja Taila (Kokum Butter) in the Management of Padadari (Cracked Heels)
https://www.jayumedsci.com/article/2017/2/2/105530jams2017216 - Pharmacological Activity of Garcinia indica (Kokum): An Updated Review
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC8708457/ - Kokum (Garcinia indica)a beneficial underutilised crop: A review
https://thinkindiaquarterly.org/index.php/think-india/article/view/18578/13539 - Kokum (Garcinia Indica) and its Many Functional Components as Related to the Human Health: A Review
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.1040.2058&rep=rep1&type=pdf - Application of kokum (Garcinia indica) fat as cocoa butter improver in chocolate
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jsfa.1967
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Payal Karnik
Payal Karnik is a certified health and nutrition life coach. She is a biotechnology graduate from the University of Mumbai… more
Tracy Tredoux
(DipION, mBANT, CNHC, AFMCP)Tracy is a fully qualified nutritional therapist who specializes in gut and immune health. She is a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition… more
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