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About the Author

A Legacy Resource, Recognized Worldwide

For 19 years, The African Gourmet has preserved Africa's stories through food, history, and folklore. Selected for expert consideration by the Library of Congress Web Archives, the world's premier guardian of cultural heritage, ensuring our digital timeline endures for generations.

Trusted by: Wikipedia • Emory University African Studies • University of Kansas • University of KwaZulu-Natal • MDPI Scholarly Journals.
Explore our archived collections → DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17329200

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From political insights through food to traditional wisdom and modern solutions - explore Africa's depth.

Ethiopian Coffee Kiss DIY Lip Balm — A Handmade Gift for Coffee Lovers

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📁 DIY coffee lip balm 📁 Ethiopian coffee gift 📁 homemade beeswax lip balm

Ethiopian Coffee Kiss DIY Lip Balm — Perfect for Gifting Coffee Lovers

Ethiopian Coffee Kiss DIY Lip Balm

There are many kinds of beeswax lip balm out there, but nothing beats the joy of making your own — especially when it’s infused with the aroma of Ethiopian coffee. This Ethiopian Coffee Kiss DIY Lip Balm is unisex, deeply moisturizing, and simple to create with grocery-store ingredients. It’s an ideal handmade gift for coffee lovers, holiday stockings, or self-care baskets.

Explore more stories in the African Coffee Hub .

The Beauty of Handmade Gifts: Making something yourself shows care, reduces waste, and lets you choose every ingredient for a personal, high-quality touch.
Did you know? Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee and Africa’s top producer. For centuries, Ethiopian beekeepers have harvested beeswax to seal food — now you can use it to seal in moisture for your own lip balm.

Ingredients (Makes about 6 small lip balm tins)

  • ¼ cup beeswax pellets (found in the natural beauty or candle section)
  • 2 tablespoons pure shea butter
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 10 drops coffee bean essential oil (or infuse neutral oil with coffee grounds if essential oil is unavailable)

Directions

  1. In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the beeswax, shea butter, and coconut oil together. Stir occasionally until smooth.
  2. Remove from heat. Add coffee essential oil (or strained infused oil) and stir well.
  3. Pour carefully into clean, dry lip balm tins or small jars.
  4. Let cool for at least 2 hours until fully set.
Gift Tip: Label your tins “Ethiopian Coffee Kiss” and tie with twine or ribbon. Pair with a bag of Ethiopian coffee beans or a coffee mug for a thoughtful homemade gift.

Where to Find Ingredients

  • Beeswax pellets — craft aisle, candle-making section, or natural skincare shelf at larger grocery stores
  • Shea butter — beauty section or natural foods aisle
  • Coconut oil — cooking oil aisle
  • Coffee essential oil — natural beauty section, online, or make your own by infusing oil with coffee grounds

More Coffee-Inspired Reads

The African Gourmet explores how African food, history, and science intertwine. Here, a plant is a healer, a story is a map, and the kitchen is a laboratory. I’m Ivy — a writer raised by historians, now sharing Africa’s wisdom from the U.S. through cookbooks, cultural research, and storytelling. If you’re curious about where flavor meets memory, you belong here.

Recipes Explain Politics

When Rice Recipes Become Revolution

What if your grandmother's rice recipe could explain the Liberian Rice Riots of 1979?

"In Liberia, rice isn't just food—it's life, identity, and sovereignty. When the government proposed raising rice prices in 1979, they weren't just adjusting economics; they were threatening every grandmother's ability to feed her family according to traditions passed down for generations."

The riot that followed wasn't about politics—it was about the sacred right to cook your family's rice recipe.

The Deeper Recipe

  • Ingredients: Colonial trade patterns + Urbanization + Economic inequality
  • Preparation: Political disconnect from daily survival needs
  • Serving: 40+ deaths, regime destabilization, and a warning about ignoring cultural fundamentals

This is African Gourmet analysis: understanding how the food in grandmother's pot connects to the protests in the streets. The recipes we inherit carry not just flavor, but the entire history of our political and economic struggles.

Read the Rice Riots Analysis → Try Liberian Rice Bread Recipe
Understanding Africa through the stories our food tells • Since 2006

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African Gourmet FAQ

Archive Inquiries

Why "The African Gourmet" if you're an archive?

The name reflects our origin in 2006 as a culinary anthropology project. Over 18 years, we've evolved into a comprehensive digital archive preserving Africa's cultural narratives. "Gourmet" now signifies our curated approach to cultural preservation—each entry carefully selected and contextualized.

What distinguishes this archive from other cultural resources?

We maintain 18 years of continuous cultural documentation—a living timeline of African expression. Unlike static repositories, our archive connects historical traditions with contemporary developments, showing cultural evolution in real time.

How is content selected for the archive?

Our curation follows archival principles: significance, context, and enduring value. We preserve both foundational cultural elements and timely analyses, ensuring future generations understand Africa's complex cultural landscape.

What geographic scope does the archive cover?

The archive spans all 54 African nations, with particular attention to preserving underrepresented cultural narratives. Our mission is comprehensive cultural preservation across the entire continent.

Can researchers access the full archive?

Yes. As a digital archive, we're committed to accessibility. Our 18-year collection is fully searchable and organized for both public education and academic research.

How does this archive ensure cultural preservation?

Through consistent documentation since 2006, we've created an irreplaceable cultural record. Each entry is contextualized within broader African cultural frameworks, preserving not just content but meaning.