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Argan oil is exceptionally rich in natural tocopherols (vitamin E), rich in phenols and phenolic acid , rich in carotenes , rich in squalen... -
Traditional method Before modern times, the Berbers or Amazighs (indigenous people of Morocco) of this area would collect undigested argan ...
What is Argan Oil ?
Argan oil is an oil produced from the kernels of the argan tree, endemic to Morocco, that is valued for its nutritive, cosmetic and numerous medicinal properties. The tree, a relict species from the Tertiary age, is extremely well adapted to drought and other environmentally difficult conditions of southwestern Morocco. The species Argania once covered North Africa and is now endangered and under protection of UNESCO. The Argan tree grows wild in semi-desert soil, its deep root system helping to protect against soil erosion and the northern advance of the Sahara. This biosphere reserve, the Arganeraie Biosphere Reserve, covers a vast intramontane plain of more than 2,560,000 hectares, bordered by the High Atlas and Little Atlas Mountains and open to the Atlantic in the west. Argan oil remains one of the rarest oils in the world due the small and very specific growing areas.
Argan trees were first reported by the explorer Leo Africanus in 1510. An early specimen was taken to Amsterdam where it was cultivated by Lady Beaufort at Badminton House in 1711...
The fruits of the Argan tree are green. They look like an olive but are larger and rounder.
Inside, there is a hard shell nut which represents about one quarter of the flesh fruit weight. The nut can contain up to three kernels from which the argan oil is extracted.
Inside, there is a hard shell nut which represents about one quarter of the flesh fruit weight. The nut can contain up to three kernels from which the argan oil is extracted.
The production of this oil is a demanding and laborious process which was until recently completely realized by hand. The manual method consisted in first, extracting the nut of the fruit then cracked the hard nut's shell to collect the kernels. These were roasted by mild heating and once cooled, ground in a stone rotary quern.
Latter the kernels were hand-mixed with mild water to form a dough. It was from the dough that had been obtained that the oil would be extracted by hand.
Recently mechanical presses have been introduced to extract argan oil. This process reduces considerably the time needed to extract 1 liter of oil.
Once the kernels are roasted, the mechanical press takes care of the grinding and extraction. More oil is extracted and since no water is added to press the dough, the oil can be stocked longer.
The most consuming time of the process, cracking the nuts, is still realized by hand.
Neither solvant nor heat is used for this oil extraction. This oil is a cold first pressed oil which means a high nutritive quality.
The argan oil is slightly darker than olive oil and has a nutty flavor.
Latter the kernels were hand-mixed with mild water to form a dough. It was from the dough that had been obtained that the oil would be extracted by hand.
Recently mechanical presses have been introduced to extract argan oil. This process reduces considerably the time needed to extract 1 liter of oil.
Once the kernels are roasted, the mechanical press takes care of the grinding and extraction. More oil is extracted and since no water is added to press the dough, the oil can be stocked longer.
The most consuming time of the process, cracking the nuts, is still realized by hand.
Neither solvant nor heat is used for this oil extraction. This oil is a cold first pressed oil which means a high nutritive quality.
The argan oil is slightly darker than olive oil and has a nutty flavor.
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