THE ARGAN TREE

Argan Oil is golden oil produced from the kernels of the argan tree. The argan tree is endemic to Morocco. For centuries, the Berber people of Morocco have used the argan for its many culinary, medicinal, and cosmetic properties. It is truly, the Moroccan Elixir. The argan oil remains one of most expensive and rare oils in the world due the small and specific growing areas. Therefore, it is often referred to it as the Liquid Gold from Morocco.

The Argan Tree (argania spinosa) grows in the southwest region of Morocco, between Essaouira and Agadir. The Argania species once covered all of North Africa, but is now endangered and under the protection of UNESCO. The tree is a relic from the Tertiary age and is well suited to adapt to environmentally difficult conditions such as droughts. It grows wild in semi desert soil, with a deep root system that helps to protect from soil erosion.

The Argan tree is thorny and reaches the heights of 8-10 meters. It is believed to have originated in the town of Argana, a village north east of the Moroccan city, Agadir. It lives longer than the olive tree and requires no cultivation. The trunk of the tree is twisted and gnarled, allowing goats to climb its branches and feed on the leaves and fruit. It is possible to see this magnificent site while driving in the southwest regions of Morocco. The fruit has a green fleshy exterior much like an olive but larger and rounder. There is a nut inside the fruit, which has an extremely hard shell and contains one to three almond shaped kernels.

The goats eat the fruit leaving the nut behind. The nuts are collected by farmers and produced into the argan oil by a very arduous process. The production of argan oil is still mostly done by traditional methods. The production of one liter of oil takes about 20 hours of hands on labor. The production of the argan oil is still a cottage industry, managed by co-operatives of women. It provides employment to many women and families in the region.