The seeds of the Argania spinosa tree, which grows in southwestern Morocco, are used to make argan oil, which is sometimes called “liquid gold.” Traditional hand-extraction has been kept alive by Berber women for generations, with the skill being passed down from mother to daughter. One of the most valuable natural oils in the world is made through a process that takes a lot of work and time.
Getting the Fruit
Women pick ripe argan fruits by hand from the trees from May to August. They put the fruits out in the sun to dry for a few weeks. As the fruit dries, the pulp on the outside shrinks and is easy to peel off, showing a hard nut inside. The valuable oil is inside one to three small pieces that are inside each nut.
Getting the Hard Nuts Off
Once the nuts are dry, women use stones to crack the tough argan nuts by hand. Because the shells are so hard, this step needs skill and accuracy. They carefully take out the kernels and throw away any broken or empty shells. At this point, you need to be patient and strong.
Roasting (Only for cooking oil)
If the oil is going to be used for cooking, the kernels are lightly roasted over a low heat. When you roast argan oil, the nutty smell and deep taste come out even better.
But when making beauty oil, they don’t roast the nuts. Because they use raw kernels, the nutrients stay in, and the scent stays light enough to use on skin and hair.
Putting together a paste
The nuts are then ground in a traditional stone mill that is run by hand. The kernels are ground until they become a thick, brown paste that feels oily.
Kneading and Getting Rid of Oil
Women mix the dough by hand after adding small amounts of warm water. This process helps get the oil out of the solids. As the paste gets thicker, the oil starts to come out slowly.
Filtering, Pressing, and Setting
The Moroccan oil comes to the top of the paste and is squeezed out by hand. After being picked up, the oil is left to sit for about two weeks. Lastly, it is screened through cloth to get rid of any impurities. This makes golden, pure argan oil.
Even though there are more modern mechanical ways to do things, many Moroccan unions still use this old method to keep things authentic and true to their culture.
FAQs
1. Why does traditional argan oil production require a lot of work?
Because everything is done by hand, without tools, from picking the nuts to cracking them and kneading the paste.
2. What’s the difference between argan oil used in cooking and argan oil used for beauty?
For a nutty taste, roasted kernels are used in culinary oil. Raw kernels are used in cosmetic oil to keep the nutrients.
3. How long does the aged method take?
It can take several weeks for the whole process to finish, including drying and settling.
4. Why does argan oil cost so much?
Large amounts of food and a lot of hard work are needed to make a small amount of oil.
5. Are the old ways of making argan oil still used today?
Yes, many women’s groups in Morocco still use the old-fashioned ways of making argan oil by hand.
