History:

Argan Oil is a rare and precious commodity and has been used in the beauty rituals of Moroccan women since antiquity. Argan trees grow in the semi-desert area of south western Morocco and they produce fruit smaller than apricots. Goats find this fruit so delicious they are willing to climb the prickly Argan trees to get at it. In the past, the pits from the goat’s droppings were cracked open and the kernels inside were pressed to make Argan Oil. The journey through the digestive system of a goat is not a necessary step in the process of making quality Argan Oil, so we at Saadia Organics leave that rather disgusting step out. However, it does make for an interesting part of the story.

How it’s made:

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. So this product is nut-free. The extraction of the oil from that kernel inside the fruit is done by hand at Saadia Organics by Saadia herself and her hardworking team of women. This hand extraction process is very time consuming. The fruit of the Argan tree is green in early spring and then turns gold. At that point it is then picked and opened. The outer layer of fruit is given to local goats to enjoy and the pits are taken from the inside of the fruit. These pits are then allowed to dry in the marvelous Moroccan sun. Then the hard work begins. Each pit is cracked between two stones. The kernels are then removed, and ground into a thick paste by hand with a stone quern. The paste is then squeezed to produce the oil.

Types:

There are two varieties of Argan Oil. Some is for culinary purposes and some is for cosmetic use. If the oil is to be used in cuisine, the dried pits are roasted prior to breaking them open. This brings out the delicious nutty flavour in the oil. Roasted pits produce a lot more oil than unroasted pits. Argan Oil for Cosmetic use is made from unroasted pits. It, too, has a nutty aroma when you first apply it, but that scent completely disappears within a few minutes. Note: Beware of “deodorized” Argan Oil. The process used to take the aroma out of the oil is said to damage the miraculous abilities of pure, unaltered Argan Oil. Saadia Organics is proud to only offer you the most natural, authentic product possible.

Composition:

Argan Oil is made up of unsaturated fatty acids, Vitamin E/tocopherols, squalene and sterols. Each of these components is unique and useful for different reasons. Some act as antioxidants, while others help with chronic inflammation. Some properties are even known for their ability to protect against skin cancer and for being anti-tumorigenic. Check out this site and this one, too if you want more detailed information.