Where do Soap Nuts Come From?

The up to 15 metres high soap nut tree grows mainly in South India.

In March and April, the tree is adorned with white flowers, and the ripe soap nuts are harvested in October.

When removed from the tree the soap nuts are sticky and golden in colour. They are dried and their colour becomes reddish-brown.

Then the nuts are cracked and the black kernel, which can neither be eaten nor used for washing is removed and the shell, which contain saponine (a natural detergent), are packed up in cotton bags.