Producing the Lye.

Without Lye to react with the Palm (or Palm Kernel) oil there is no soap. In Black soap the lye is even more important as it is created from the most benificial ingredients - Plantain skins, Shea, Cocoa and water.

It's these ingredients that mainly benefit Psoriasis suferers and sooth Dry skin and eczema.

Firstly peel the plantains (A tip here: place the Plantains in warm water for 5 minutes before peeling - it helps with the peeling.). Slit the skin along their Length, avoiding the ridges. Make 4 or 5 cuts so that the skin can be removed in strips.

Save the flesh for some tasty snacks - recipe's to follow at a later date.

Place the skin on a non-reflective tray (To maximise radiation) then place in a dry area in direct sunlight.

Let dry for about 2 to 3 days. The skin should be black in colour (The outside) and woody to the touch.

Next you need to roast the skin - I roast for about 3 hours at 220 C. Now I incinerate the skins using a gas torch, untill the ash turns to a grey powder.

The ash is then mixed with water (Caution: use a glass or ceramic container and plastic spatula as the solution is strongly caustic).