Cacay Oil from Colombia: Anti-ageing Remedy from the Nut

Interview with Camilo Bueno
Managing Director of CaryO in Colombia

Your company CaryO specialises in the production of cacay oil. Cacay oil is considered an anti-ageing agent. What is it all about?

Cacay oil, also known as the liquid gold of the Colombian Amazon, has been traditionally used by the indigenous communities of the Amazon region to heal wounds. So the list of its benefits is very long. But it is true that the anti-ageing effect is a key product benefit.

The anti-ageing effect is based on the combination of retinol, linoleic acid and beta-sitosterol in cacay oil: retinol stimulates cell renewal and collagen production, reducing wrinkles and age spots. Linoleic acid strengthens the skin barrier and maintains hydration. And beta-sitosterol soothes the skin and reduces inflammation, promoting firmer, smoother and younger-looking skin.

Clinical studies by Derma Consult GmbH in Germany confirm the effect of cacay oil. A neutral cream with 5 per cent cacay oil was tested. 30 volunteers used the cream for 28 days. The results: Skin hydration increased by 36 per cent, skin elasticity by 10 per cent, skin firmness by 14 per cent, skin resistance to fatigue by 7 per cent and wrinkle depth decreased by 15 per cent.

In which care products is cacay oil used today? Where do you see further potential uses?

Cacay oil is primarily found in high-end skincare formulations, particularly in anti-aging serums, moisturizers, and facial oils, thanks to its rich nutrient profile and effective properties.

Cacay oil is lightweight and absorbs quickly, making it suitable for all skin types. It has a pleasant nutty aroma and is characterized by its golden color. The combination of the mentioned ingredients makes Cacay oil a powerful active component in various skincare formulations, especially for anti-aging, moisturizing, and soothing applications. I see significant potential to expand its use across a wider range of skincare products, including everyday moisturizers, sunscreens, and after-sun care.

What do you pay particular attention to in order to produce a high-quality oil?

The most important factor in obtaining high-quality cacay oil is implementing good post-harvest practices. From the end of February to early May, during the cacay harvest, it is essential to collect the freshly fallen cacay fruits from the ground daily, take them for immediate drying, and dry the nuts quickly. This ensures fresh nuts, which results in golden-colored cacay oil with a light nutty scent.

To achieve this post-harvest quality, we partnered with the GIZ (German Agency for International Cooperation) to train and provide the necessary infrastructure to our cacay nut suppliers in the Amazon. We use the same solar dryers as the coffee industry, allowing our partners to dry large quantities of cacay in a short time. This has set us apart in the market and allows us to offer our customers a very light oil with a pleasant aroma, high antioxidant content, and a low peroxide value.

Where do you source your raw material from?

At CaryO, we source cacay nuts from two origins for our oil. The first is our family farm located in the Orinoquía region, which was originally used for cattle ranching but has been transformed into agroforestry systems centered around the cacay tree since 2017.

In addition, we have also been developing our “Wild Cacay Project” since 2022, an initiative in partnership with GIZ (German Agency for International Cooperation). Our aim is to promote the development of Wild Cacay Forest Economies in the Colombian Amazon. We work with communities in the Amazon region that protect the rainforest and harvest cacay nuts responsibly, which we purchase at a fair price. This ensures that it is more profitable for these communities to preserve the rainforest than convert it to pasture for livestock or illicit crops.

We are developing an entire supply chain for wild cacay nuts harvested by farmers and indigenous peoples who previously engaged in coca paste production. By 2025, we aim to work with over 80 families who will utilize wild cacay nuts. Through this project, we will protect more than 4,000 hectares of Amazon rainforest.

Can you give us an insight into the next production steps? How do you process the cacay nuts?

The cacay fruit must be peeled and quickly dried to prevent the oxidation of the nut. Next, the shell is removed, which is similar to that of a walnut. The nut has a thin skin that needs to be removed as well, marking the beginning of visual quality control and manual selection of the nuts. Finally, the nuts are cold-pressed to extract cacay oil, which is then bottled and prepared for export.

How do you ensure consistently high quality in production?

We implement quality controls at every stage of the process. Visual inspections start during collecting the fruits from the ground and continuing throughout all subsequent processes until nut pressing. During drying, we constantly monitor moisture levels to ensure optimal humidity for the nuts. During oil pressing, we consistently monitor the temperature to ensure a cold-pressing process that guarantees the superior quality of our cacay oil.

How important are international markets for CaryO? What are your goals?

Thanks to our participation in the IPD (Import Promotion Desk) program, organized by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, we have successfully accessed the European market. For example, our presence at the in-cosmetics trade fair – sponsored by the IPD – was an important platform for establishing contacts with retailers in Europe. Our customers and partners particularly appreciate the benefits of our oil for facial care and our commitment to protecting the Amazon rainforest.

Our goal is to have leading Clean Beauty brands in Europe incorporate our cacay oil into their formulations, making these products available in stores worldwide. This international commercialisation of cacay oil is important because it allows us to further expand our project: We generate increased revenue, which translates into better purchase prices for cacay nuts from our farmer partners. With these favorable prices, we make cacay production more profitable than activities like livestock farming, which harm the environment and Amazonian biodiversity.

Picture Credits: ©CaryO

CaryO https://caryo.co/eng/

IPD www.importpromotiondesk.de