A story of empowerment. Despite a steadily growing global market for argan products—for luxury cosmetics and culinary use—argan trees grow only in Morocco. They’re finicky, and the process of extracting their oil is complicated and requires intensive manual labor.
Why is argan oil only in Morocco?
Argan oil is a plant oil produced from the kernels of the argan tree (Argania spinosa L.) that is endemic to Morocco. In Morocco, argan oil is used to dip bread in at breakfast or to drizzle on couscous or pasta. It is also used for cosmetic purposes.
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Properties.
| Fatty acid | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Stearic | 6.0% |
| Linolenic | <0.5% |
Does argan oil only come from Morocco?
Although native to Morocco, argan oil is now used across the globe for a variety of culinary, cosmetic and medicinal applications.
Why do argan trees grow in Morocco?
For centuries, Morocco’s main natural defence against the expanding desert has been its argan forests. The forests create a buffer zone between Morocco’s usable soil and the dead sands of the Sahara, preventing desertification. The trees protect the nation’s water reserves and keep the soil alive.
Where are argan trees found?
These researchers maintain that argan tree is one of the few surviving relict-breed species of the Tertiary Period, which spanned from 65 million to 1.8 million years ago. Currently, the tree can be found in the south of Morocco, west of Algeria, north of Western Sahara, and north of Mauritania [9].
Why is Argan oil so expensive?
Argan oil is known to be one of the rarest, hence most expensive oils in the world. Pure, original argan oil is hard to obtain and production is time-consuming, thereby its price is high. Not all Argan Oil on the market is real and pure as many so called producer may diluted it, just to make it cheaper.
Is argan oil poisonous?
Argan oil is generally considered safe for most people to use. Some individuals, however, may experience minor side effects as a result of its use. When used topically, argan oil may irritate the skin. This can cause rashes or acne to form.
Is Argan oil made from goat poop?
From poop to riches
Argan nuts pass through the digestive system of a tree goat whole. Once they are excreted, people gather them from the goat’s droppings and crack them open to expose the seeds inside. Argan nuts contain anywhere from one to three oil-rich kernels.
Why is Moroccan oil so expensive?
Moroccan oil is another name for argan oil and is made from the kernels of the argan tree fruit that grows almost exclusively in Morocco. This oil is one of the rarest in the world due to the small supply and the limited growing area – hence the high price and the hype. Traditionally, the oil is produced by hand.
Can I use argan oil everyday?
How often you use argan oil depends on your hair type and the condition of it. If you have dry, damaged or frizzy hair for example, then you may find it best to use the oil every day as this way you will continually benefit from its revitalising effects.
Is Argan a fruit or nut?
Despite its naturally nutty aroma, Argan Oil is not made from a nut at all. Argania spinosa trees are fruit bearing, and Argan Oil is made from the kernel inside of the pit of the fruit.
How long does it take an argan tree to grow?
Trees may start to bear when 5 – 6 years old from seed, and reach maximum production at the age of 60 years[ 418 ]. Average fruit yield may be about 8 kg per tree[ 418 ]. A long-lived species, with trees living for 200 – 400 years[ 418 ].
Is argan oil of Morocco good for colored hair?
Color treated hair has a tendency to get dry, so a deep-conditioning treatment like OGX Argan Oil of Morocco Intense Moisturizing Treatment is a hair-saver, just let it sit for 3-5 minutes after washing, rinse and style.
Does argan oil make your skin darker?
Argan oil can be used to treat a number of skin and hair conditions such as slow hair growth, acne, dryness of scalp, dry skin, stretched skin as well as for pure cosmetic purposes. It does not contain damaging chemicals like synthetic hair darkening products, which makes it a safe bet.
Does argan oil clog pores?
Because argan oil won’t clog your pores (it’s non-comedogenic), and the oleic and linoleic acids in argan oil help balance the skin. This means argan oil actually reduces oil/sebum production in oily skin, and for honeys with dry skin, argan oil balances hydration loss.
Is argan oil a nut product?
Argan oil is derived from the nut of the argan tree and has rarely been reported to cause allergic reactions. While it is not a common food in the U.S., you will often find it in Morocco.