Where Does Argan Oil Come from?

If somebody mentions the words Argania Spinosa you probably would not realize that this is the scientific name of the Argan tree.

Argan oil is a plant oil produced from the kernels of this tree.

The Argan tree, that is endemic to Morocco, is now well known all over the world because of the oil extracted from it.

Liquid Gold From Morocco

The Argan oil earned lots of nicknames such as the miracle oil of Morocco and liquid gold of Morocco.

Argan oil is also known as Moroccan oil and this oil has been utilized in Morocco for more than 3,500 years.

It was used for both in the kitchen as well as a cosmetic oil for skin and hair care. But argan oil also had medicinal purposes.

This tree only grows naturally in Morocco!

Getting to Know the Argan Tree

The Argan tree grows only in the southwest part of Morocco. Because of this fact, the oil is considered one of the rarest precious oils in the world.

The Argan tree has a long life living up to 200 years. The roots of the tree grow further deep down the ground.

This is a defense mechanism of the tree.

By having its roots planted deep down it can search for water and protect the tree from heavy rain, prevent the soil from eroding and prevent the Sahara from advancing.

Argania Spinosa, World Heritage

About 13 years ago (the year 1999) UNESCO (United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Education) declared the Argania Spinosa more commonly known as the Argan Tree as a World Heritage.

This move was to help preserve the Argan trees as they are now endangered.

It is believed that the Argan tree has been around for millions of years.

It is actually one of the oldest trees on Earth.

The Goats like to Clim in the Tree

The Argan tree grows 8 to 10 meters and would usually have a crooked trunk. The fruit of the Argan tree or the Argan fruit is a part of the diet of goats native to the region.

The crooked trunk of the tree allows goats to climb its branches so they can get to the fruits and leaves of the tree.

The Argan Tree is

Nature truly weaves wonderful magic on all living things.

Entire North Africa was once covered by Argan trees but slowly the numbers went spiraling down.

Around 2 thousand years ago, an estimated 3 million acres of Moroccan land was blanketed with Argan trees and this number has dropped dramatically as the year 2000 came very near.

Unesco Steps In

The dramatic drop in the number of Argan trees in Morocco was what prompted UNESCO to declare the Argan forest in Morocco and the areas surrounding it a World Biosphere Reserve.

Because of the fact that humans tend to always be excessive and abuse the natural resources, Morocco now only has 2 million acres of land blanketed with Argan trees.

Why is Argan Oil that Expensive?

The Argan trees start bearing fruits once they reach 30 to 50 years old and they only bear fruits once every year.

This bit makes the oil even rarer than it already is. The ratio is one Argan tree for 1 liter of Argan oil.

With the very high demand for this oil, you probably would not wonder too much as to why this oil is pricier than any other oil in the market.

How is the Argan Oil Produced?

The oil is extracted from the nut seeds of the Argan fruits.

The nuts are cracked open with the use of a stone to get the seeds out. There are two types of argan oil.

Difference between Culinary and Cosmetic Argan Oil

One is the cosmetic oil while the other type is the culinary oil.

Most commonly, when producing the culinary oil will be roasted, added with water, ground into a thick paste then pressed.

While when producing the cosmetic oil, the nut seeds are raw and cold-pressed with the aid of a machine.