There is a long way between picking a ripe argan fruit and the argan oil you use to care for your body. The argan tree only grows in the south of Morocco, and is exclusively produced by the Berber tribes in the vicinity of the argan tree plantations.

30 KILO NUTS = 1 LITER ARGAN OIL

Per season, an argan tree produces about 30 kilos of argan fruits (good for almost a liter of argan oil), which are collected by Berber women and the skin of the fruit is removed. This is done by hitting the hard fruits with a stone.

There are 3 seeds in the fruit, which are full of argan oil. A stone hand mill is used to press the oil from the argan kernels. After grinding, the substance is mixed with water and kneaded. By kneading the oil separates from the pulp and by squeezing this doughy substance the pure argan oil left over.

ARGAN OIL COLD PRESSED

Nowadays, argan oil is increasingly pressed mechanically, because this process is faster and the shelf life of argan oil improves. It is important that no solvent or heat is used during mechanical pressing.

The latter certainly does not happen with our argan oil. It is cold pressed so that as few nutrients as possible are lost. That does mean that more argan kernels are needed to obtain the same amount of argan oil, which partly explains the higher price of argan oil.

MOROCCAN COOPERATIONS: BY AND FOR BERBER WOMEN

For centuries, the production of argan oil has been carried out and managed by Berber tribes. Nowadays, argan oil is increasingly produced by cooperatives of Berber women. Together they ensure the sustainable use and preservation of the argan trees.