How to Make Black Soap
Overview
Black soap comes from the tribes of Africa. Although there is a basic recipe, there are also many variations. The recipes change from tribe to tribe and no two seem to be the same. The differences come in the form of the various oils, such as coconut and palm, and the bark and leaves, such as banana and shea trees, that can be included. Each tribe has their own version, using some of the oils and ash and leaving out others. However, the basic recipe is simple, using only one type of tree for the ash and one type of oil. Once you have mastered this, you can start to experiment.
Step 1
Roast the cocoa pods in a pot until broken down to ash. You will need to burn enough to get 1 to 1 1/2 cups of ash. The amount of pods you will need will depend on the size of each. Make sure that the pods are empty before burning.
Step 2
Heat the palm oil in a separate pot, but do not let it get to boiling. If so, turn the temperature down. You want to keep it just below boiling.
Step 3
Pour water into the pot with the ash and bring to a boil.
Step 4
Boil the water until the ashes are dissolved.
Step 5
Pour the hot oil slowly into the boiling water and lower the temperature to a simmer. Stir constantly. The black soap will form as foam on the surface. Keep the mixture heated during the soap gathering process. For larger batches, the process can take hours, but with a small batch it will not take nearly as long.
Step 6
Scoop the foam off and put it on wax paper to cool. Continue until all the water has evaporated from the pot. What is left in the pot, as well as the foam that was scooped out, is black soap.
Step 7
Shape it into whatever you want once it is cool to the touch.
Step 8
After the soap has formed, it must set up for about two weeks.
skill
3
ingredient
About 6 cups of water
2 cups palm oil
Empty cocoa pods for burning. Amount varies. You will need enough to get at least 1 cup of ash.
2 pots
tip
The water amount does not have to be exact because it is not being combined in the soap. It is just an agent to dissolve the ash.
If you want a soap that is not as dark in color, put in slightly less ash.
keyword
black soap, ash, palm oil