When western women catch wind of a new “miracle oil,” the next super lotion that promises eternal youth and exquisite beauty, be sure that demand for the thing will soar. This is what has happened with argan oil, that illustrious “liquid gold” derived from a nut in Morocco, which is used in both culinary and cosmetic applications.
Rumored to be full of fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamin E, argan oil cosmetics produced in the Maghreb are now available throughout the world, and that is a good thing for the women who make them.
There are now 137 cooperatives in Morocco that employ mostly women to produce argan oil, according to The Daily Star.
The argan tree is able to thrive in the desert environment of Morocco thanks to its deep root system that protects it against soil erosion and desertification. Even so, the once ubiquitous tree is now considered endangered and is protected under UNESCO.
In the past, Berber women collected undigested argan nuts from the waste of goats that used to climb into the trees and eat them. These were ground and pressed to make the precious oil. Modern technology bypasses the goats, and argan oil is made from nuts that are taken directly from the trees.
