Batana oil is traditionally extracted through a natural, labor-intensive process used by the indigenous Miskito people of Honduras as a hair oil. The process includes the following steps:
1. Harvesting
The nuts are harvested from the fruit of the oil palm tree, which grows abundantly in regions like the Moskitia region of Honduras.
2. Seperation of the fruit
Next, the fruits are seperated from their husks to eliminate unnecessary elements.
3. Boiling
The harvested nuts are boiled to soften the shells and make them easier to crack.
4. Miler or grinding
After boiling, the nuts are grinded to extract the oil by using traditional grinding method in a manual machine called miler.
5. Hydroulic press
The paste is now fruther pressed in a hydroulic press machine to extract the remaining oil. This traditional pressing technique ensures that the oil retains its natural nutrients and purity.
6. Final boil
Finally, the extracted oil is again boiled to remove any impurities or solid particles. After boiling the oil is strained and filtered.