Argan Oil of Morocco - the story

Argan oil is pressed from the nuts (or kernels, like a peach pit) of the Argan tree.



The Argan tree (Argania spinosa) is well adapted to the drought conditions of southwest Morocco. The Argan tree has a deep root system which helps protect against soil erosion. The tree is also very thorny and the trunks are gnarled. Argan trees grow up to 10 meters tall can live up to 200 years. The Argan tree's habitat once covered most of North Africa, but is now listed as endangered. Over the past 100 years, the area the Argan tree grows in has declined by 50%. The demand for argan oil has allowed this tree to be preserved and protected from further destruction.


Goats love to eat the fruit of the Argan tree.
Goats actually climb up into the Argan tree to get to
the fruit despite the tree's thorns! The fruit is relatively small,
about 2 to 4 cm long and 1.5 to 3 cm across.
Inside the fruit is a nut, or pit,
surround by a bitter peel and sweet smelling,
yet unpleasant tasting, fleshy fruit.
The nut looks something like
a cross between a walnut and an almond.
The argan fruit is gathered up and the nuts
are removed from the fleshy fruit. The fruit is later used as
animal feed.
The nuts are roast over an open fire - much like chestnuts - giving the argan oil its distinctive nutty peppery flavor. If the argan oil is meant for cosmetic use, the nuts are not roasted.
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