ARGAN OIL MAROCAIN PRESENTATION DE LA NATURE

The Mediterranean Association Insertion-Human and Social Development

Moroccan Argan oil The Gold that grows on Trees

Argan oilis a plant oilproduced from the kernels of theargantree that isendemictoMorocco. In Morocco, argan oil is used to dip bread in at breakfast or to drizzle oncouscousor pasta. World-wide, it is gaining a reputation both as an ingredient in high-end, personal-care products and as a heart-healthy gourmet product.

The Area in Morocco where Argan plant is naturally and biologically grows:

Argan Oil:

There are dozens of outposts of argan oil cooperatives, where an all-female workforce manually cracks open kernels and processes the oil. First, the husks are dried, removed, and used as animal feed. Using two stones, workers remove a small almond-shaped seed that contains up to 60percentoil. The shells are ground and used as natural exfoliates and in pottery, and the seeds are either cold-pressed, producing a light oil for cosmetic use, or toasted and processed into culinary oil. The latter is often found in a tasty spread calledamlou, an addictive almond butter spiked with honey and argan oil. More than one person referred to it as Moroccos answer to Nutella.

Like many of the other collectives in these parts, theMarjana Cooperativenear Ounagha leads visitors through the production process. A staff of 50 workers, split over two shifts, processes hundreds kilos of argan kernels each day; at intervals throughout the shift, the workers take part in each step of the process, since each is physically demanding in its own way.Accordingto the UK-based company Arganic, it takes 30 kilograms of argan fruit and 15 hours of labor to makeone liter oil.

While Berber women have long had a hand in producing argan oil on a small scale, it wasnt until the late 1990s that Rabat-based chemistry professor and activist Zoubida Charrouf helped to revolutionize the entire argan industry in Morocco by establishing the first female-only collective, where women were paid fair wages for their work.Uses of Argan Oil:Culinary uses:Culinary argan oil (argan food oil) is used for dipping bread, oncouscous, salads and similar uses.Amlou, a thick brown paste with a consistency similar to peanut butter, is produced by grinding roasted almond and argan oil using stones, mixed with honey and is used locally as a bread dip.Various claims about the beneficial effects on health due to the consumption of argan oil have been made. Researchers have concluded that daily consumption of argan oil is "highly likely" to be one factor that helps prevent various cancers,cardiovascular diseases, andobesity.The results of a nutritional intervention study, in which volunteers consumed either argan oil or animal fats (butter) in their diet, were published in 2005. The results showed thatas with olive oil and some other vegetable oilsregular dietary intake of argan oil instead of butter reduced harmfulcholesteroland triglycerides in the blood.Cosmetic uses:Moroccans traditionally use unroasted argan oil to treat skin diseases, and as a cosmetic oil for skin and hair:"In cosmetics, argan oil is advocated as moisturizing oil, againstacne vulgarisand flaking of the skin, as well as for "nourishing" the hair. This oil has also medicinal uses against rheumatism and the healing of burns ... Externally, argan oil is used ... for hair asbrilliantine, to fortify and ... in the treatment of wrinkled or scaly dry skin.Argan oil has become increasingly popular for cosmetic use. The number of personal-care products on the US market with argan oil as an ingredient increased from just two in 2007 to over 100 by 2011. It is sometimes mixed withpomegranateseed oil due to its antioxidizing benefitswith vendors promoting this blend as an all-in-one serum both for skin and hair.Argan oil is also sold without additives as a natural skincare and hair care product.