Argan Tree

"The green curtain at the door way to the sahara" from Zoubida Charrouf (Professor in the Science Faculty of Mohamed V. University, in Rabat, Morocco)

About the Argan Tree Argan Tree (Argania Spinosa) can only be found in the south West part of Morocco. That makes it one of the rarest in the world. The tree is very resistant and can live up to 150 to 200 years. Its roots grow deep in search of water and this helps retain the soil against heavy rain, preventing erosion and limiting the advance of the desert. In 1999, UNESCO added the Argan Tree to the World Heritage List. Argan trees play a vital role in maintaining the ecological balance and as well the economic situation of the population.

Where does Argan Oil come from Argan oil comes from the nuts of the Argan Tree, which are cracked by hand and the seed extracted and ground into paste oil. It is traditionally made by local Berber women who work in cooperatives and it can take 10 to 12 hours to produce one litre of oil. The production of Argan oil is controlled by women's cooperatives in Morocco. Through fair-trade, Argan oil provides the Berber women with a dependable source of income, a means of improving their financial independence and it opens better access to health care and education.