Description
The licuri palm grows only in north-east Brazil, from Pernambuco through Bahia into northern Minas Gerais. In the Piemonte da Diamantina region of Bahia, collectors, many of them women, cut the fruit bunches between January and May and carry them home in woven baskets or by mule. The fruit is dried and each nut is cracked by hand between stones. Licuri oil is pale yellow and fluid with a mild coconut aroma. Like coconut and babassu oil, it is rich in lauric acid and feels light on skin and hair.
Details
| Botanical name | Syagrus coronata (licuri palm) |
|---|---|
| Origin | Bahia, Brazil |
| Part used | Nut kernel |
| Extraction | Wet extraction: boiled and skimmed |
| Texture | Light, fluid |
| Size | 8.5oz (250ml) |
| Ingredients | 100% Syagrus coronata kernel oil |
Why supply is limited: licuri is gathered from wild groves, not plantations, and every nut is cracked by hand. The palm is also the main food of the endangered Lear’s macaw, so the fruit is shared with wildlife.
How to use
- Hair: smooth a few drops through the lengths, or apply before washing.
- Body: smooth over damp skin after bathing.
- Soap and lotion: use in bar soaps and lotions in place of coconut oil.
Patch test on the inner arm before first use. Keep away from the eyes. Store somewhere cool and dark with the cap closed.
FAQs
Is licuri oil like coconut oil?
It has a mild coconut aroma and, like coconut oil, is rich in lauric acid.
Does it go solid?
It may cloud or thicken in the cold. Warm the bottle in your hands and it will turn clear.
Where does it come from?
From wild licuri palms in the caatinga of Bahia, Brazil.
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