One would never realize by looking at the plant known as Stevia, or Stevia Rebaudiana of the chrysanthemum family, that by placing it in hot water and following a special extracting process, the resulting glycosides create a tenacious sugar substitute. Jedwards International is pleased to announce the addition of Stevia to our growing line of…
The fruit of the Argan tree, endemic to Southern Morocco, has enjoyed hundreds of years of locally celebrated usage, unbeknownst to much of the rest of the world. The Berbers, an ethnic group indigenous to North Africa, have used the fruit of this “Tree of Life” as a source of food, charcoal, firewood and building…
Many of us today primarily relate the word “chia” to the once famous pet plant that took the retail industry by storm in the 1980’s. A clever ram shaped object that grew sprouts became a trendy gift idea, changing the face of Christmas for several years. Nowadays, the term chia, which is a species of…
The word soap, from the Latin root “sopa” has created abundant interest throughout time, and much original usage speculation, as well as the first introduction into civilization, has been debated. There is a fascinating re-publication, originally published prior to 1923, aptly titled, “The Handbook of Soap Manufacture,” by W.H. Simmons and H.A. Appleton, which…
One late April day, as rainy season winds its way into the Ghana landscape, a group of women gathered at a newly formed women’s cooperative to discuss the challenges of harvesting shea nuts, otherwise known there as “Women’s Gold.” The physical demands of working long hours in the hot sun, stooping over to hand…
“I made cranberry sauce, and when it was done put it into a dark blue bowl for the beautiful contrast. I was thinking, doing this, about the old ways of gratitude: Indians thanking the deer they’d slain, grace before supper, kneeling before bed. I was thinking that gratitude is too much absent in our…
“And now he shook away the snow of time from the winter-green of memory, and beheld the fair years of his childhood uncovered, fresh, green, and balmy, standing afar off before him.”~ Jean Paul In botany, the term “evergreen” refers to all plants and trees that maintain their greenness throughout the winter. When we hear…
Everyone loves the aesthetic and versatility of sunflowers! This flower’s history carries centuries of stories, myths, traditions and are often associated with positive values, like truth, loyalty and honesty. Sunflowers are said to have been cultivated and harvested as early as 2,000 BC, initially by the native North Americans. Jedwards International is proud to offer…
Oats A crop primarily grown in Europe and North America, Oats (Avena sativa) have a long and distinguished history. Oats have been an important agricultural commodity for both humans and livestock since antiquity. In addition to being an important food source oats have been used in a variety of skin care products. Jedwards is a…
Nature’s most perfect creations… The process of making honey is incredibly detailed and laborious. Honeybees are one of earth’s most communicative and industrious creatures. It takes more than 2 million flowers to make one pound of honey and the average worker bee will produce only 1/12th of a teaspoon in its lifetime! Bees relay the…
Many societies have discovered and embraced the value of shea nut butter, and its many beauty and health benefits. Although mainly used as a cooking oil in Africa, demand for shea nut butter in the domestic cosmetic industry has exploded. Jedwards carries a variety of Shea products, including Organic and Fair Trade Certified options.
We are excited to be carrying a new miraculous oil: Virgin Marula Oil sourced from Namibia! This oil is derived from the legendary Marula tree, native to Southern Africa and parts of East and West Africa, growing to be up to 18 feet tall. Fun fact about the Marula tree is that it’s dioecious, meaning these trees have…
