Castor oil comes from the seeds of the castor plant, Ricinus communis , a tropical shrub originally native to East Africa and nearby regions but now grown in many warm parts of the world. The thick vegetable oil is obtained by pressing these seeds (often called “castor beans”), which naturally contain a high percentage of oil.

What castor oil is made from

  • Castor oil is a vegetable oil extracted from the seeds of the plant Ricinus communis.
  • These seeds, commonly called castor beans, contain about 40–60% oil that can be mechanically pressed out.

Even though they’re called “beans,” castor seeds aren’t true beans in the botanical sense.

Where the plant comes from

  • The castor plant is believed to be native to the Ethiopian region of East Africa and parts of the Mediterranean and India.
  • Today it is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions, especially India, Brazil, and China, which are major producers of castor oil.

How the oil is obtained

  • Oil production typically involves cleaning and pressing the seeds, then filtering and sometimes refining the oil to remove impurities and toxins from the seed material.
  • Cold-pressed castor oil is usually pale yellow, while roasted “black” castor oil is darker because the seeds are roasted before pressing.

A quick historical note

  • Castor oil has been used since ancient Egypt, where seeds and oil have been found in tombs dating back to around 4000 BCE, mainly for lamps, medicine, and cosmetics.
  • Over time, its use spread through Africa, Asia, and Europe, and it is now used in medicine, cosmetics, and many industrial products.

TL;DR: Castor oil comes from pressing the oily seeds of the castor plant (Ricinus communis), a shrub originally from East Africa that is now grown in many warm countries for its versatile oil.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.