Tengkawang illipe nuts Borneo rainforest Kalimantan
Kalimantan · Borneo
Wild-Harvested · Zero Deforestation
Tengkawang / Illipe

Borneo's
Green Butter

Wild-Harvested Rainforest Fat · Kalimantan, Indonesia

From the pristine primary forests of Kalimantan, Tengkawang (Shorea spp.) nuts yield one of the world's most prized vegetable fats — a zero-deforestation emollient with unmatched stearic acid profiles for cosmetics, a legal CBS for confectionery, and a clean-burning base for luxury candles.

The Rare Amazon of Asia Secret: Meet Borneo's Green Butter.

Discerning clean-beauty brands are moving to the pristine rainforests of Borneo. Our Borneo Illipe Substitute Fat is a wild-harvested, zero-deforestation emollient with superior melting point and unmatched stearic acid profiles. Premium fractionated formulations offer ultra-hydration for lip care, anti-aging creams, and luxury soaps — without sacrificing the planet.

→ Request your certified organic sample sheet and technical specifications today.

Master the Melt: The Sustainable Premium Cocoa Butter Equivalent.

Elevate your confectionery lineup with our fully legal, industrially refined Tengkawang CBS (Cocoa Butter Substitutes). Engineered naturally from the fallen nuts of the Shorea tree, this Indonesian treasure mirrors the exact snap, gloss, and mouthfeel of high-grade cocoa butter. Heat-stable, 100% plant-based, and perfectly suited for tropical climates and global shipping.

→ Contact our export desk for bulk container quotes.

Indigenous Wisdom. Zero Waste. 100% Regenerative.

Discover our export-ready line of finished Tengkawang Lifestyle Products — from zero-paraffin aromatherapy candles to nutrient-dense agricultural seed cakes for organic feed. Handcrafted and processed directly at source in Kalimantan, our products support fair-trade wages for indigenous forest guardians. Give your eco-conscious consumers authentic, regenerative luxury.

→ Inquire about our finished goods line and white-label options.

Zero-Deforestation Certified
Full Chain Traceability
24h Quote Turnaround
Min. Order 500 kg
Indigenous Forest Partnership

Illipe Fat
Specifications

Export-grade Tengkawang fat sourced from wild-harvested Shorea spp. nuts. Full Certificate of Analysis, fatty acid profile, and MSDS provided on request for every lot.

Botanical Name
Shorea spp. (Dipterocarpaceae)
Common Names
Tengkawang · Illipe · Borneo Tallow
Origin
Kalimantan (Borneo), Indonesia
Harvest Season
Masting cycle (~5-year intervals)
Stearic Acid Content
45 – 55%
Melting Point
34 – 38°C (fractionated)
FFA (Free Fatty Acid)
≤ 1.5% (cosmetic grade)
Iodine Value
33 – 42
Available Grades
Crude · RBD · Fractionated
Min. Order Quantity
500 kg (RBD / Fractionated)
Packaging
200 L drums / ISO flexitank / FCL
Lead Time
3 – 6 weeks (subject to season)
Certifications & Documentation
Certificate of Analysis Fatty Acid Profile (GC) MSDS / SDS Phytosanitary Certificate Certificate of Origin Zero-Deforestation Declaration Organic (select lots)

Three Markets,
One Source

Tengkawang fat is supplied in multiple grades and finished forms to serve the cosmetic, confectionery, and eco-lifestyle industries from a single traceable supply chain.

Cosmetic Grade (Fractionated / RBD)
Ultra-refined for lip care, anti-aging creams, and luxury soaps. Low FFA, light color, neutral odor. Technical spec sheet and sample available on request.
CBS Grade (Cocoa Butter Substitute)
Industrially refined for confectionery. Mirrors cocoa butter snap, gloss, and mouthfeel. Heat-stable and fully legal in most global markets. Container-load pricing available.
Candle & Lifestyle Grade
Zero-paraffin candle base and aromatherapy products. Handcrafted at source in Kalimantan. Finished goods and white-label options available for eco-retailers.
Seed Cake (Agricultural By-product)
Nutrient-dense press cake from oil extraction. Zero waste, used as organic animal feed supplement. Bulk bags and container loads available for agricultural buyers.
Sustainability Note

Tengkawang trees fruit on a natural masting cycle of roughly 3–7 years, meaning supply is seasonal and quantities are limited per cycle. We work directly with indigenous Dayak communities who wild-harvest fallen nuts, ensuring zero tree felling and verifiable zero-deforestation supply chains. Early reservation and forward contracts are recommended for large volume buyers.

Sourced from
Borneo's Rainforests

Tengkawang grows exclusively in the primary rainforests of Borneo — one of the oldest and most biodiverse ecosystems on earth. Each region produces Shorea nuts with subtly different fatty acid compositions influenced by microclimate and species variety.

01
West Kalimantan
Kalimantan Barat · Borneo

The largest wild Tengkawang harvesting region, home to multiple Shorea species including S. stenoptera and S. pinanga. Deep primary forest coverage supports large nut yields during masting cycles. Primary source for cosmetic and CBS-grade fat.

02
Central Kalimantan
Kalimantan Tengah · Borneo

Remote interior forests at higher elevation yield Tengkawang with slightly higher stearic acid content. Indigenous Dayak communities here maintain generations-old harvesting knowledge and fair-trade cooperative structures.

03
East Kalimantan
Kalimantan Timur · Borneo

Rich in Shorea beccariana and S. seminis. Proximity to established export infrastructure at Balikpapan port makes East Kalimantan a strong source for container-load orders with competitive lead times and reliable logistics.

How We Source & Process

A transparent, traceable supply chain ensuring every shipment carries verifiable zero-deforestation provenance and meets international cosmetic, food, and sustainability standards.

01
Indigenous Harvest

Dayak community gatherers wild-collect fallen Tengkawang nuts from primary forest floor during masting season. No tree felling. GPS-tagged harvest zones documented for each lot.

02
Drying & Primary Processing

Nuts are sun-dried at source to reduce moisture, then cold-pressed or expeller-pressed to yield crude Tengkawang fat. Pressing is done at community-level facilities, maximizing local value addition.

03
Refining & Fractionation

Crude fat is RBD-refined (Refined, Bleached, Deodorized) and optionally fractionated to target melting point for cosmetic or CBS specification. Certificate of Analysis issued for every refined lot.

04
Documentation & Shipment

Full compliance package prepared: COA, fatty acid profile, MSDS, phytosanitary certificate, zero-deforestation declaration, and certificate of origin. FCL and LCL available via Balikpapan, Pontianak, or Surabaya.

Frequently Asked
Questions

Is Tengkawang a legal cocoa butter substitute in my market?
Tengkawang/Illipe fat is approved as a Cocoa Butter Equivalent (CBE) or Cocoa Butter Substitute (CBS) in most global markets including the EU (Directive 2000/36/EC allows up to 5% non-cocoa vegetable fats in chocolate), the UK, and ASEAN. Regulations vary by market and application — we recommend verifying with your local food authority. We provide full technical documentation to support your regulatory submission.
What documents do you provide with each shipment?
Every export shipment includes: Certificate of Analysis (fatty acid profile, FFA, IV, melting point, moisture), MSDS/SDS, Phytosanitary Certificate, Certificate of Origin, and a Zero-Deforestation Declaration with GPS-referenced harvest zone data. Organic certificates are available for select lots upon request.
Why is Tengkawang supply seasonal and limited?
Tengkawang trees fruit on a natural "masting" cycle driven by climatic cues — typically every 3–7 years. This means large-scale nut availability only occurs in certain years, making it a genuinely rare and wild-sourced ingredient. We recommend buyers register interest in advance so we can allocate from the next masting event. Forward contracts and reservations are accepted.
What are the minimum order quantities and lead times?
Minimum order is 500 kg for RBD or fractionated Tengkawang fat. Crude Tengkawang may be available in smaller lots. Container loads (FCL, ~18–20 MT) qualify for best pricing. Lead time is typically 3–6 weeks from order confirmation, subject to the seasonal harvest cycle. Sample lots of 1–5 kg are available for qualified buyers at lab/formulation stage.
How does Tengkawang compare to Shea butter for cosmetics?
Tengkawang (Illipe) has a higher stearic acid content (45–55%) versus Shea (35–45%) and a superior melting point for tropical climates, making it particularly valued for stick formulations, lip care, and products requiring firmness and a non-greasy skin feel. It is also genuinely wild-harvested and forest-positive, providing a compelling sustainability story that is increasingly differentiated from plantation-grown alternatives.
Can you supply finished consumer products for white-label?
Yes. In addition to bulk fat, we offer a finished goods line including zero-paraffin Tengkawang candles, artisanal body butters, and seed cake (for agricultural use) that are handcrafted at source in Kalimantan. White-label and private-label options are available for eco-retailers and consumer brands. Minimum quantities and lead times vary by product — contact us for a finished goods catalog.

Ready to Source
Borneo's Green Butter?

Tell us your application (cosmetic, confectionery, lifestyle), required grade, volume, and destination. We'll respond within 24 hours with availability, indicative pricing, and a sample offer. No obligation.

Free sample lots for qualified formulators (1–5 kg)
Response within 24 business hours
Full zero-deforestation documentation
Forward contracts accepted for masting season
Request a Tengkawang Quote
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