The Ingredient Library
Kalahari Melon
Citrullus lanatus
Kalahari melon seed oil is pressed from the seeds of the wild tsamma melon of the Kalahari Desert in Namibia, Botswana and South Africa, where rural communities gather the melons after the rains.
Get to know Kalahari Melon
- Source
- Melon seeds
- Origin
- Namibia, Botswana
- Extraction
- Cold-pressed
- Texture
- Light, fast-absorbing
What it is
Kalahari Melon is a botanical carrier oil used in hair and skin care.
Why it belongs in your routine
Light, linoleic-rich seed oil from the wild tsamma melon of the Kalahari.
How to use
Warm a few drops between your palms and smooth over hair or skin. Patch test before use.
Where Kalahari Melon comes from
The Kalahari melon, or tsamma, is the wild ancestor of the watermelon, Citrullus lanatus. It is a creeping annual vine that grows on the red sands of the Kalahari in Namibia, Botswana and South Africa. After the summer rains it sets round, pale green, mottled fruits with pale, bitter or bland flesh. The fruits store water, and for thousands of years San people relied on them as a source of water and food.
Kalahari melon seed oil is pale yellow with little scent. It is naturally high in linoleic acid, typically around 57 to 71 percent, with oleic acid around 13 to 17 percent. It absorbs quickly and leaves a light, dry feel, so it is used in face oils, lotions, baby oils and hair serums.
Sourcing & extraction
How Kalahari Melon is sourced and extracted
Why it is rare
The melon grows wild or semi-wild in dry sandy country and gives one crop a year, only after good rains. Seeds must be hand-separated from the fruit, and in drought years there may be very little harvest.
How it is gathered
Kalahari melons are typically collected by rural communities in northern and eastern Namibia and in Botswana after the summer rains, often by women. The ripe fruits are gathered from the vines in the field, opened, and the seeds scooped out by hand. The seeds are sun-dried, bagged and carried to community processing centres or regional presses.
How it is made
Cold-pressed from the seed
- Ripe tsamma melons are gathered from wild and farm-edge vines after the rainy season.
- The fruits are split and the seeds scooped out by hand, then rinsed free of pulp.
- Seeds are sun-dried to reduce moisture and cleaned of sand before pressing.
- An expeller presses the dried seed without added heat, and the oil is settled and filtered.
How to use Kalahari Melon
- Start with a few drops and warm them between your palms.
- Massage into clean skin, or work through the lengths of damp or dry hair.
- Use on its own, or add a few drops to your moisturizer or conditioner.
For external use only. Patch test on a small area before first use and stop if irritation occurs. If you are pregnant, nursing or have a medical condition, ask a healthcare professional before use.
From ingredient to routine
Products with Kalahari Melon
Find this ingredient in our collection.
Questions about Kalahari Melon
Where does Kalahari Melon come from?
Kalahari melons are typically collected by rural communities in northern and eastern Namibia and in Botswana after the summer rains, often by women. The ripe fruits are gathered from the vines in the field, opened, and the seeds scooped out by hand. The seeds are sun-dried, bagged and carried to community processing centres or regional presses.
How is Kalahari Melon extracted?
Cold-pressed from the seed. Ripe tsamma melons are gathered from wild and farm-edge vines after the rainy season. The fruits are split and the seeds scooped out by hand, then rinsed free of pulp. Seeds are sun-dried to reduce moisture and cleaned of sand before pressing. An expeller presses the dried seed without added heat, and the oil is settled and filtered.
Why is Kalahari Melon considered rare?
The melon grows wild or semi-wild in dry sandy country and gives one crop a year, only after good rains. Seeds must be hand-separated from the fruit, and in drought years there may be very little harvest.
