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How To Make Tea Tree and Spirulina Soap
I love healthy food and try to follow a plant based diet. This was the inspiration for a recent range of soaps. Spirulina is a favourite smoothie additive, rich in protein, vitamins and minerals. It has been around for about 3 billion years, and must be pretty perfect as it hasn't evolved much since. The Soap Kitchen sells it at a good price compared to health food stores.
Recipe for Tea Tree and Spirulina Soap
Makes approx 2.9kg
• 280g Caustic Soda
• 650g Coconut oil
• 800g Olive oil
• 700g Shea butter
• 780g Water/coconut water
• 1x 400g can organic coconut milk (I use Biona as its only other ingredient is guar gum)
• 20g Tea tree essential oil
• 20g Eucalyptus essential oil
• 20g Peppermint essential oil
• 30g Spirulina powder
N.B. This recipe has been superfatted.
Equipment
• Goggles
• Gloves
• Apron (wear long sleeves)
• 5l sturdy pan, not aluminium.
• 1-1.5l pyrex jug
• Scales
• Stainless steel spoons
• Electric stick blender
• 2 thermometers
• Suitable lined mould
Instructions for Tea Tree and Spirulina Soap
Step 1
Ensure adequate ventilation and wear protective clothing and goggles.
Step 2
Make sure you won't be disturbed, it will make the process a lot easier and safer! If you have small children, consider making soap when they are out!
Step 3
Open the coconut milk, scoop out the cream which settles on top and add to pan with solid oils. Save the coconut water underneath.
Step 4
Place solid oils into a 5l pan, gently heat for a few minutes. Remove heat before the oils have completely melted, they will continue to melt.
Step 5
Add the coconut water to a 1l or 1.5l pyrex jug or similar, make up to 780mls. Never use aluminium for soapmaking. Place jug in a large bowl of water, I put a freezer block in the bowl to help keep it cool. Add your sodium hydroxide very carefully, stirring with a stainless steel spoon until dissolved. The solution will get very hot, and give off caustic fumes.
Step 6
Weigh out the essential oils and the spirulina.
Step 7
When the solid oils have completely melted, add the olive oil. Keep checking temperature of both sodium hydroxide solution and oils, it's best to have 2 thermometers for this. When they are both in the range 35oC – 40oC carefully pour the sodium hydroxide solution into the pan with the oils. Use a stick blender to achieve a light trace, which should take 2-3 minutes, then stir in the essential oils. Pour half of this into your mould. Then add the spirulina powder into the pan, stir with a stainless steel spoon, then pour this into your mould. Cover mould in towels and leave for 48hrs before cutting. *Make the soap without adding the spirulina. Pour half the soap into mould, then mix in the spirulina and pour this into mould to get a swirling effect.
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