Moroccan Argan Oil

Moroccan Argan Oil

Moroccan Argan Oil . This genuinely amazing substance, sometimes known as “Liquid Gold,” is only found in Morocco and is still created there. Many of the “Argan Cooperatives” that can be found in Morocco’s cities, towns, and smaller villages provide oil for cooking, but it is also becoming more and more well-liked cosmetically (in its unroasted form) for the hair, to treat various skin conditions, as a natural moisturizer, to fight wrinkles, and more!

Where does it originate from?

The Argan nut is derived from a fruit that grows on the Argan tree and has a mushy pulp that encircles the nut in the middle and a thick outer skin. From these interior nut kernels, the oil is extracted and refined for use in cooking and cosmetics.

The traditional methods of extraction are crucial to the final product, and the nuts are typically air dried before being cracked open and having the individual kernels manually removed. Visitors to the Argan Cooperatives will observe that Moroccan women engage in this time-consuming procedure on a daily basis.

Although it appears to be really simple watching these skilled women quickly and accurately break each solitary nut, in my experience, this is not the case. Many photographs will show these women seated on the ground, holding an upside-down pot between their knees, and cracking open the nuts with an appropriately shaped rock. But don’t be deceived; these women have years of training and practice, and it’s not as simple as it seems.I gave it a try, and in less than a minute, I had broken the rock in my fingers that were gripping the nut (which the lady sitting next to me found highly amusing). I could see the humor in it, but I didn’t want to acknowledge defeat, so I tried several more times with the same, regrettable outcomes. I realized that I was not meant for such a chore and gracefully left the workshop with aching and hurting fingertips with more than a dozen Moroccan women giggling at me on the walk out after being the laughing stock among these lovely ladies who had patiently shown me how it all works.

The end result

I was determined to see the process through from beginning to end and learn more about this amazing process of how nuts are miraculously turned into pure oil in a bottle that ends up on your dinner table or to apply to your skin in the hammam despite my failure in the nut-cracking sector (or to moisturise your hair). The nuts are gathered, separated from their shells, then roasted, allowed to cool, and then ground and pressed.The pure Argan oil that results from this process is promptly decanted into bottles (the roasting procedure gives the oil a faintly “nutty” scent). The oil is then placed in storage and allowed to sit for a few weeks so that any small “bits” can settle to the bottom and the pure oil can rise to the top. The final product of this procedure, known as “Liquid Gold,” is then filtered once more.

The procedure is nearly the same for cosmetic oil, with the exception that the nuts are not roasted to avoid the “nutty” scent, which is great for flavoring food but not so great for use on hair and skin.

I bought a couple bottles for myself to take home after seeing this fascinating procedure, and I continue to do so every time I visit Morocco. My hair and skin looked and felt amazing after spending 12 days in Morocco on my first ever trip (nearly 7 years ago now), where I also experienced a variety of hammams. Therefore, the claims made about this tiny, underappreciated nut do indeed hold true. It also adds a delightful, fragrant flavor to your cuisine.

Be forewarned, though, that pure Argan oil is pricey; budget at least £5 for a small bottle. Avoid falling for the cheaper bottles that are advertised everywhere because they can be diluted versions. Do not forget that you only get what you pay for.