Macadamia Seed Oil

A Prized Cosmetic Oil

Macadamia seed oil is a valuable cosmetic ingredient derived from the seeds of the macadamia nut tree (Macadamia integrifolia and Macadamia tetraphylla). While native to the Australian rainforests, macadamia cultivation has flourished in the warm, humid regions of northeastern South Africa for over a century.

South Africa’s Macadamia Production

The two primary macadamia species were first introduced to South Africa from Australia in the late 1800s. Macadamia trees, members of the Proteaceae family (Garner et al., 2007), quickly adapted to the subtropical climate of the Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provinces.

As of 2022, South Africa had over 29,000 hectares dedicated to macadamia orchards of these two species, primarily in the northeastern areas. The country is one of the largest global producers of macadamia nuts, accounting for nearly 40% of the world’s supply.

After the tough outer shell naturally cracks upon drying, the nutrient-dense macadamia nut kernel is cold-pressed to extract its valuable oil. This oil is golden-green and has a high smoke point around 216°C.