ARGAN OIL

Argania spinosa

An exotic oil derived from the nuts of a tree native only to a small area in the south western desert of Morocco, where it has been utilised for centuries. The tree plays such an important role in the local ecosystem and culture that it has been elected onto the UNESCO world heritage list.

The traditional process of extraction is very cumbersome and time consuming, even involving the digestive system of the local goats who graze on these trees. Modern mechanical presses have made the process much easier and more efficient. Today the harvest and processing of the nuts are largely managed by a Moroccan women's cooperative. The survival of these trees is their livelihood and they have done much to protect the last stands against the encroaching farmers.

The oil is rich in oleic and linoleic acids as well as vitamin E. It is particularly beneficial for aged and chapped skin. In southern Morocco the Argan tree is revered as a tree of life.