Cupuaçu Butter
Cupuaçu, like the cacao tree, belongs to the mallow family and the genus Theobroma and is common in the Amazon region. Its botanical name, Theobroma grandiflorum, refers to its large flowers, and these are not the only distinguishing feature. Cupuaçu means fruit of the gods. The cream-colored, sour-aromatic pulp is processed with sugar to make soft drinks, jams, liqueurs. In the cosmetics industry, cupuaçu butter is popular for its moisturizing and nourishing properties. Cupuaçu contains a high concentration of antioxidants, phytosterols and essential fatty acids that can help protect and regenerate the skin.
Cupuaçu tree
The main flowering season is during the rainy season in October/November, with a second smaller flowering following in July/August. The cupuaçu tree grows up to 20 meters high, in cultivated form about 10 meters. It reaches a diameter of 45 cm. The elliptical fruits are 12 – 35 cm long and have a diameter of 10 to 15 cm and a weight of 0.5 to 2.5 kg. The ripe fruits have a strong and pleasant fragrance. In the fragrant pulp there are 25 to 50 seeds, which are 3 cm long and 2.5 cm wide. The tree also grows in plantations in mixed culture, as it prefers partial shade.
Use of the Cupuaçu
The seeds are pressed and processed into the soft cupuaçu butter. Wild collection opens up a source of income for the forest population. This is because the habitat of the cupuaçu tree is threatened by deforestation and the construction of the Tucuri dam.
Cupulate, called cacao blanco in Spanish, is a melt-in-the-mouth chocolate base and an integral part of Brazilian cuisine. It is obtained by conching fermented cupuaçu seeds and used to make chocolate, ice cream, cream, cake. Its taste is reminiscent of cocoa, but has a fruity-caramel note.
Shamans were also convinced of the power of the fruit and used the blessed cupuaçu juice to facilitate births. The seeds have been used to heal wounds and relieve abdominal pain. The foliage makes a nutrient-rich biofertilizer.
Extraction
Per year, 7000 fruits can be harvested per hectare; that is about two tons of pulp and one and a half tons of seeds. The fruits are collected from the forest floor during the tropical rainy season.
Cupuaçu butter is the filtered or centrifuged fat obtained from the cupuaçu seeds by squeezing.
After collecting the fruit, the seeds are separated from the flesh and then dried, fermented, roasted, separated from the skin.
Then the seeds are crushed into cupulate by rolling or squeezed at 36°C with little pressure using a modern screw press. The resulting mass is liquid like oil when warm. It is mechanically cleaned after pressing and solidifies when cold.
The press residue can be further processed into cupuaçu powder. It can be used in the same way as cocoa powder, has a similar taste.
Cupuaçu powder contains flavonoids, rare polyphenols, and the alkaloid theacrine instead of caffeine. Theacrine is similar to caffeine in its structural formula and is considered a stimulant, has no habituation effect, but has a proven energy-boosting and mood-lifting effect.
Cupuaçu butter is used as a consistency agent for cosmetic products and as a starting material for further production steps, e.g., white chocolate.
Despite the external similarity, it is different from shea butter and cocoa butter. More information about cocoa butter here!
Cupuaçu butter is a real treasure chest of valuable substances flavones, fatty acids, vitamins, and trace elements.
Fatty acid composition:
Oleic acid (40.7%): refatting, as a free fatty acid in the skin sebum.
stearic acid (31.5%): waxy, vegetable fat component, cream base
Linoleic acid: reduces transepidermal water loss, regulates sebaceous gland activity
Palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, myristic acid: components of skin sebum
Linolenic acid: for dry, brittle skin
Caprylic acid, capric acid: ensure good distribution properties
Arachidic acid, also known as eicosanoic acid: saturated fatty acid, component of phospho- and sphingolipids, which are involved in the structure of the cell membrane and have a moisture-preserving effect
The spectrum is completed by margaric, behenic, lignoceric, lauric, gadoleic, erucic acids
Flavones: theograndine, stigmasterol, sitosterol, isoscutellarein, hypolaetin.
Here, the high content of β-sitosterol is worth mentioning, as it has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and resembles human cholesterol, which is also true for stigmasterol. Both provide lipids for the skin barrier.
Arachidic acid and antioxidant flavonoids, such as isoscutellarein or hypolaetin, are found in this combination only in cupuaçu.
In addition, there are vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C, E and the minerals selenium and calcium.
With this profile, cupuaçu butter is suitable both as a superfood and for a variety of uses in cosmetics.
As a superfood, the powder is stirred into water or smoothie.
It is said to strengthen the immune system, lower blood pressure and cholesterol (due to oleic acid and fiber), improve memory and eliminate fatigue (due to theacrine).
Cupuaçu butter in cosmetics
As an active ingredient in cosmetics, cupuaçu butter scores with its low melting point, its enormous water-binding capacity and its fatty acids.
The low melting point of 30°C means that Cupuaçu butter melts easily as soon as it comes into contact with the skin. This makes products with cupuaçu very easy to spread and quickly absorbed into the skin without leaving any residue. The butter can be warmed in the hands and massaged directly onto clean, slightly damp skin.
For an overview of the potential uses of cupuaçu, see the article “Advanced Skincare – A novel Ingredient“:
The transepidermal penetration of cupuaçu butter is higher than that of shea butter and lanolin.
A simple water absorption study in the laboratory where cupuaçu, shea butter and lanolin were added to water showed that cupuaçu could absorb 440% of its weight as water, shea butter 285%, lanolin 250%.
That is, cupuaçu absorbs four times its weight in water. The ability to absorb water is about 2 times that of lanolin or shea butter.
A study in a long-term care home showed that continuous skin care with ointment containing cupuaçu butter reduced xerosis by 85% and skin cracking by 55%.
Even though the FDA does not recognize cupuaçu as a sunscreen, it has been shown to absorb UVA/UVB rays. Indigenous people traditionally use cupuaçu butter to protect against the sun.
Due to the antioxidant effect, especially of β-sitosterol, the butter is suitable for the treatment of dermatitis, psoriasis, neurodermatitis and eczema.
Phytosterols are used for cornification disorders, age spots, to tighten connective tissue, reduce skin roughness, moisturize, improve elasticity, resistance, delay collagen degradation.
Fatty acids are ideal for protecting and moisturizing dry skin.
Of particular importance is the possibility of using cupuaçu butter as a vegan alternative to lanolin, which is emollient but often leads to allergies and irritation.
Compared to shea butter, cupuaçu butter is lighter and leaves a less greasy film.
In cosmetics, cupuaçu butter is used to make creams, lotions, hair care, as a lanolin substitute, as a shea butter substitute, in vegan anti-aging products, lip care, sunscreens and as an emulsifier.
It noticeably replenishes the skin, improves its elasticity, smoothes, helps with stretch marks, soothes the skin, relieves redness due to its barrier-strengthening properties.
It is also ideal for hair care. Apply to damp hair lengthwise, leave on for 15 minutes. The result is soft, elastic, stronger hair.
The manufacturer Beraca, which offers high-quality components from the Brazilian rainforest for cosmetics, uses cupuaçu seeds as abrasive particles, whether in shower gels, soaps, scalp care products, facial cleansers, hand and foot care or massage products. They are a 100 percent natural, sustainably harvested and biodegradable alternative to polyethylene granules.
Disadvantages
To date, there are few known disadvantages to using cupuaçu butter.
Cupuaçu butter is tolerated even by sensitive skin. In rare cases, essential oils can cause skin irritation.
It is important, as an end user and manufacturer, to pay attention to good quality in order to exclude contamination by heavy metals, pesticides or from the refining process.
The product must be absolutely vegan, preferably certified organic quality.
Preference should be given to sources that pay attention to careful production. The oil should be slow pressed, should not have a rancid odor, and should be food grade.
Fact Sheet: Cupuaçu Butter
INCI: Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
CAS number: 394236-97-6
German name: Großblütiger Kakao
Part used: Seed
Production: Cold pressing
Description: Butter, light yellow to beige
Storage: dry, cool, protected from light
Storage temperature: 14 – 18°C
Shelf life: unopened 18 months
Ingredients: Fatty acids, flavones (see above)
Effect: strengthens the skin barrier, improves skin elasticity, long-lasting moisturizing effect, high water storage capacity, lanolin, shea butter substitute, balanced sensory profile
Uses: for skin and hair care, especially for dry skin, vegan skin care.
Cosmacon has been offering the cosmetic service of individual formulation development for more than 10 years and we can certainly help your product with cupuaçu to become a success.
We like to work with the following cupuaçu containing raw materials:
| Trade Name | Company | INCI | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refined Cupuacu Butter - BCE1104 | Biocosmethic | Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter | |
| Copoazu Butter | Inzunai | Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter | |
| Refined Organic Cupuacu Butter - BCE1529 | Biocosmethic | Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter | |
| Cupuacu Butter (deodorized) | Gfn-Selco | Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter | |
| Biochemica Cupuaçu Butter REF | Hallstar | Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter | |
| Cupuaçu Butter | 100% Amazonia | Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter | |
| Cupuaçu Natural Scrub | Beraca - a Clariant Group Company | Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Powder | |
| Organic Cupuaçu Butter | 100% Amazonia | Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter | |
| Cupuaçu Butter | Beraca - a Clariant Group Company | Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter | |
| Cupuaçu Butter | Laboratoires Expanscience | Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter | |
| Chemyforest Cupuaçu FG | Chemyunion | Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter | |
| Cupuaçu Butter | Citróleo | Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter | |
| Organic Cupuaçu Butter | Beraca - a Clariant Group Company | Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter |
Cupuaçu butter in high quality cosmetics
Cupuaçu butter scores especially with its enormous water storage capacity, which is four times its own weight. Thus, it surpasses lanolin and can replace it as a vegan alternative. This is an important consideration, as vegan products are in high demand. Added to this are its sensory properties resulting from its low melting point. The butter is particularly recommended for dry skin and demanding anti-aging cosmetics. Cosmacon will be happy to advise you in your search for good cupuaçu raw materials and formulations.
Sources:
Advanced Skin Care – A Novel Ingredient.; J Am Coll Clin Wound Spec. 2014 Mar 25;4(4):92-4.
Skin Regenerative Potential of Cupuaçu Seed Extract (Theobroma grandiflorum), a Native Fruit from the Amazon: Development of a Topical Formulation Based on Chitosan-Coated Nanocapsules.; Pharmaceutics. 2022 Jan 16;14(1):207.
Development and stability study of products containing cupuaçu butter.; Esprendor, R., Raiser, A., Torres, P., Ribeiro. E.; Nogueira, R., Andrighetti, C., Valladao, D. Sci. Elec. Arch. 2019; 12(6).
Chemical characterization of Amazonian non-polar vegetal extracts (buriti, tucumã, Brazil nut, cupuaçu, and cocoa) by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and gas chromatography (GC-FID).; Leonardi, B., de Arauz, L. J., & Baruque-Ramos, J. (2019). Infarma-Ciências Farmacêuticas, 31(3), 163-176.