The prickly pear cactus has been growing in the south of Madagascar for centuries and is used as an important source of food and water during periods of hardships. The plants are also used as a natural hedge to keep intruders out and livestock in. These cacti are of vital importance for the people living in this zone due to its nutritional value and can be found all over the region. Very few people are actually aware of its value as an antiaging product and the properties of its byproducts such as prickly pear seed oil and also essential oil which can be made from this.
This is where we come into play. We are a small local team with many years of experience in the spice trade and the production of essential oil of several products our wonderful island has to offer. The south of Madagascar is a region which we hold dear and we have a strong love and bond with the local population. Unfortunately in some regions in southern Madagascar there aren’t too many crops which can grow and during some periods of the year many families don’t have any income, so we decided to have a look at some of the plants which grow in the region throughout the year and without any difficulties.
It became quickly clear to us that we’d have to work with the prickly pear cactus obviously. In the early years of our business we went from village to village, often on a motorbike, as cars cannot pass through these areas to establish relations with the villagers and farmers, often through community leaders. We mapped all these areas with the production potential per area and through collectors we come collect the dried seeds which we then bring to our warehouse where they undergo one last selection. They are then cold pressed to essential oil of the highest quality in the market.
Working with us means that you’re working with a small local company with a face who is there to answer all your questions regarding your order. You are sure that you are contributing to the local economy, in which the money reaches many households instead of going to a company which specializes in non-sustainable monoculture. As there are many kinds of prickly pear cactus, we only focus on the ones which have little edible value, to make sure that the current supply for during times of food scarcity is not affected, using only the cactuses of little to no value as a food source.
Furthermore, you will be assured that your product is produced through a mechanical process in which no solvents or any other additives are used. Our seeds are hand harvested, sun dried and then go into the press without using any chemicals. This means our product is local, fair trade, 100 percent organic, and as there are no animal products used in our factory, our products are also 100 percent vegan.
We supply prickly pear seed oil in smaller quantities, but also in bulk and wholesale. We welcome you to have a look at our products and try them out.