Moroccan Organic Argan Oil

Where does Argan Oil come from?

Argan oil comes from the nuts of the Argan Tree, which are cracked by hand, and the seed extracted and ground into paste oil. It is traditionally made by local Berber women who work in cooperatives and it can take 10 to 12 hours to produce one litre of oil.

The production of Argan oil is controlled by women's cooperatives in Morocco. Through fair-trade, Argan oil provides the Berber women with a dependable source of income, a means of improving their financial independence and hands opens better access to health care and education.

About the Argan Tree

Argan Tree (Argania Spinosa) can only be found in the South West part of Morocco. That makes it one of the rarest in the world. The tree is very resistant and can live up to 150 to 200 years. Its roots grow deep in search of water and this helps retain the soil against heavy rain, preventing erosion and limiting the advance of the desert.

In 1999, UNESCO added the Argan Tree to the World Heritage List. Argan trees play a vital role in maintaining the ecological balance and as well the economic situation of the population.

Argan Food Oil has potentialy a wide range of health and nutritional benefits, when used as part of a healthy diet.

Types of Argan Oil

Cosmetic Argan Oil

Cosmetic Argan oil works as a food for skin. No other product available in the world has cosmetic benefits like Argan oil. It has traditionally been used by Berber women as a beauty tool. It is an established scientific fact that certain nutrients help to protect human skin against environmental damage and other aging factors. Cosmetic Argan oil has some nutrients in it that are recognized as very beneficial for curing different kind of marks on skin which might be claimed by many other products but Argan oil do it very quickly and with no side effects; Moreover, it helps to prevent wrinkles and crow’s feet and augment the elasticity of the human skin without any age restrictions.

Culinary Argan oil

Culinary Argan oil is used for dietary purposes. It has a light smell and fine taste. It is extremely healthy because it is the only product available which starts decreasing cholesterol levels since the first day of its usage. So, it is the only natural cardio protective agent now available in the market.

Argan Oil Extraction Methods

Argan oil is extracted out of the seeds of Argan fruit. These seeds are obtained by tearing apart the hard nut inside the Argan fruit. These kernels are then processed using various methods to extract the most precious Argan oil. It takes a few hours to many days depending upon the method used to extract one liter of oil. Argan oil is precious in another way that it takes approximately 30 kg of Argan fruit to produce one liter of oil that is about the total produce of one Argan tree in one season. Argan fruit appears in late spring and ripens and falls from tree in the months of June and July. Argan oil has been produced by the indigenous Berber women for a long time. They used it in their cuisine and as simple beauty oil. But with the discovery of its unique chemical composition especially the presence of abundant antioxidants, some other more efficient methods of extracting Argan oil has been introduced in the market. There are three more popular methods used for Argan oil production.

Argan Oil Extraction

Traditional Human Extraction Method

Argan oil has traditionally been extracted by Berbers from the residue indigestible seeds found in the dung using indigenous tools. Goats eat the Argan fruit and excrete indigestible seeds. These seeds are ground and pressed by women to extract oil with smell and taste of nuts. Different shaped rocks and quern stones are used for pressing and cracking the oil containing seeds. It is a very lengthy process and can take several days to complete. But it has two major advantages over all other methods. One, because the whole process of production from harvest to oil extraction is done by the same people, use of best seeds for oil production can be assured. Second advantage is that the problem of oxidization of exposed seeds becomes irrelevant because of the immediate processing of obtained seeds. On the other hand, in industrial methods seeds are separately acquired from the market. Those seeds are more prone to oxidization due to longer exposure to environment.

Mechanical Extraction Method

Now more sophisticated and advanced mechanical method is used for Argan oil extraction. When commercial interest of private local and multinational entrepreneurs increased in the Argan oil production in early 1990’s, there was felt a need for a more efficient and time conserving method for the extraction of Argan oil on commercial level. Argan oil extracted using this method can be preserved for 12 to 18 months. In this method powdered kernels are mechanically pressed without mixing it with water. It is no more necessary to process the powdered kernels by tampering it with water to make a pasty substance. It takes only a couple of hours to extract one liter of oil using this method.

Argan Oil - Health regulating oil

1. Presence of oleic acid in Argan oil makes it practical solution for those who always have their cholesterol levels spiked; it helps to limitize it and maintain it. According to recent research, a very small quantity of Argan oil can considerably lower the cholesterol level for over a month.
2. Several other acids present in Argan oil are converted into 3 different kinds of prostaglandins. These prostaglandins are very beneficial for many bodily functions like immunization and anti-inflammatory functions.
3. Prostaglandins are also very useful for people with cardiovascular disorders.
4. Antioxidant vitamin E is present in large quantity in Argan oil. Vitamin E is very good for regulating functioning of heart and sex organs.
5. Unlike other oils, Argan oil contains Sterols. These sterols help block the cholesterol absorption from intestines. They are also found to be anti-cancerous.
6. Argan oil increases the concentration of a digestive enzyme named pepsin thus plays part in digestion as well.
7. Argan oil is very useful in Arthritis in which joints of the body are damaged in several ways. It slows down the degenerative processes going on in long bones of the body.
8. It is also helpful in rheumatic disease. Rheumatic fever can damage heart, skin, joints and brain.
9. Argan oil is also thought to be anti-Acne and good against chickenpox. Acne is an inflammatory disease in which red dots appear on skin.
10. It is also deemed to be Aphrodisiac. It increases sexual desire and ability in a person.
11. Argan oil is most popular as an anti-aging agent. It prevents the degeneration of muscles, a natural process resulting from growing age.

Regular use of Argan oil can give us a heart-healthy lifestyle besides fulfilling nutritional needs of the body. Argan oil has a preventive and reducing effect on the malignant cells in the body of person suffering from cancer.

Despite these health benefits of Argan oil, it has numerous beneficial effects on hair, skin and nails. Inflammatory skin diseases like chickenpox, acne and psoriasis can be prevented and cured by using Argan oil. Prevention of wrinkles on skin; reduction of pain in arthritic conditions; strengthening of hair and nails; smoothness of the skin and softness of cuticles are some other renowned benefits of Argan oil. This list of health related benefits makes Argan oils a unique cosmetic product.

Environmental & Social Benefits

Argan Oil is traditionally produced by women in Morocco. For many of these women, working in Argan Oil production gives them an independent income, allowing them a degree of autonomy in a traditionally male-dominated society. Our supplier of pure Argan Oil is committed to the payment of fair prices and the development of reliable, long-term and partnership-based trading relations with producers in Morocco.

Apart from providing a reliable source of income, Argan Oil production also ensures a future for the Argan Tree (Argania Spinosa L.), a rare tree, indigenous to Morocco, which has been around for millions of years. The Arganerie, the main Argan Tree growing region, has been recognised by the UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve since 1999. The production of Argan Oil helps to ensure that Argan Trees are valued and protected, instead of being cut down for fire wood or cleared to make way for grazing for animals.

Argan Trees act as a natural barrier to the northward spread of the Sahara Desert, help in the fight against climate change and act to preserve biodiversity.

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