What is palm kernel oil? It is the oil from the kernel, the seed inside the fruit of the African oil palm, Elaeis guineensis. It is not the same as palm oil. Palm oil comes from the fleshy part of the same fruit.
Below is where palm kernel oil comes from, what it is made of, how refined and black palm kernel oil differ, and how it is used on skin and hair.
What is palm kernel oil? The short answer
- Where it comes from: the kernel of the oil palm fruit.
- The plant: the African oil palm, Elaeis guineensis, native to tropical Africa.
- What it is made of: mostly lauric acid, about 45 to 55 percent.
- Texture: semi-solid at room temperature.
- Ingredient name on a label: Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Kernel Oil.
Where palm kernel oil comes from
The oil palm fruit has layers. On the outside is the fleshy part. Inside that is a hard shell. Inside the shell is the kernel, the seed.
- The fleshy part gives palm oil.
- The kernel gives palm kernel oil.
So one fruit gives two different oils. People often mix them up because the names are so close.
What is kernel oil?
Kernel oil is any oil made from the kernel, or seed, of a fruit or nut. Apricot kernel oil is one example. But in Nigeria and across the African diaspora, when people say “kernel oil” they almost always mean palm kernel oil.
In Igbo it is called Ude Aki. Ude means cream or lotion, and aki means palm kernel. In Yoruba it is Adin Dudu. Read more in Ude Aki in English.
Palm kernel oil vs palm oil
| Palm kernel oil | Palm oil | |
|---|---|---|
| Part of the fruit | The kernel (seed) | The fleshy outer part |
| Main fatty acid | Lauric acid | Palmitic and oleic acids |
For the full comparison, see palm kernel oil vs palm oil.
What is palm kernel oil made of?
Like every plant oil, palm kernel oil is made of fatty acids. The international standard for vegetable oils, Codex Alimentarius, lists these ranges for palm kernel oil:
| Fatty acid | Share of palm kernel oil |
|---|---|
| Lauric acid | 45 to 55 percent |
| Myristic acid | 14 to 18 percent |
| Oleic acid | 12 to 19 percent |
Lauric acid is also the main fatty acid in coconut oil. The same standard lists about 45 to 53 percent for coconut oil, so the two oils are close cousins in make-up.
Refined vs black palm kernel oil
Palm kernel oil comes in two very different kinds.
- Refined palm kernel oil is bleached and deodorised in a factory. It is pale, with little colour or smell.
- Black palm kernel oil is the traditional kind. The kernels are cracked, cooked over firewood and the oil is sieved out. Nothing is bleached or deodorised.
Despite the name, black palm kernel oil is not black. Ude Aki is deep caramel to rich brown, darker or lighter by batch, with a strong smoky, nutty scent. That is the real thing, and the scent fades after a few minutes on skin. More on this in how to use black palm kernel oil.
What is palm kernel oil used for on skin and hair?
- Skin: it moisturizes and softens. See palm kernel oil for skin.
- Hair: it conditions and seals in moisture, and in West Africa it has long been used for strong hair. See the best oil for 4c hair.
- Scalp: a small amount massaged in moisturizes a scalp that feels dry.
Palm kernel oil has been reviewed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel, which concluded it is safe as used in cosmetics.
Ude Aki is sold as a cosmetic, for external use only. Do not eat it or cook with it.
Is palm kernel oil the same as batana oil?
Same family, different home, same job. Batana oil comes from the kernel of the American oil palm, Elaeis oleifera, and is traditionally made in Honduras. Palm kernel oil comes from the kernel of the African oil palm. One process, two continents. Read batana oil vs black palm kernel oil.
Questions people ask
Is palm kernel oil solid or liquid?
It is semi-solid at room temperature. With Ude Aki, solid or liquid, both are normal. Whatever the weather did in transit decides which one lands on your doorstep. If it arrives solid, warm it in your hands for a few seconds.
Does palm kernel oil smell?
Refined palm kernel oil has little smell. Black palm kernel oil has a strong smoky, nutty scent that fades after a few minutes on skin.
Is palm kernel oil the same as palm oil?
No. Palm oil comes from the fleshy part of the fruit. Palm kernel oil comes from the kernel inside it.
What is black palm kernel oil called in Nigeria?
Ude Aki in Igbo and Adin Dudu in Yoruba. In Central Africa it is known as Manyanga.
Where to get Ude Aki
JEB FOODS Ude Aki Black Palm Kernel Oil, 4 oz is one ingredient and nothing else, cooked over firewood in Nigeria and packed in the USA. Scan the QR code on the lid, or visit jebfoods.com/real, to check your jar is real.
Part of the profit funds our nonprofit organization, Save All Africa Kids (saak.org).
Sources
- FAO and WHO, Codex Alimentarius. Codex Standard for Named Vegetable Oils (CODEX-STAN 210-1999).
- FAO, Feedipedia. Palm kernel meal.
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Elaeis guineensis, African oil palm. Plants of the World Online.
- Burnett CL, et al. Safety Assessment of Plant-Derived Fatty Acid Oils. International Journal of Toxicology, 2017.