The Posh Peddler

The history of the Argan tree is tied closely to the history of the Berber People who inhabit the Agadir region of Morocco. For hundreds of years they have used it as a source of food, charcoal, firewood, and building material. But its is probably its most notable use. It has been used as a tradition medicine, a dietary staple, (usually eaten on bread or in amlou, a sweet oil and almond paste, regarded as an aphrodisiac), and provides as much as 25% of their daily lipid intake.

The tree produces an oval-shaped green fruit which contains 2-3 kernels inside a pit. In order to extract the kernels from the almond, the almond must first be cracked open. Berber women collect the fruit, containing pitts that are among the hardest known, and engage in the tedious and difficult process of extracting the kernels. The producer then roasts the kernels lightly to bring out the mild hazelnut flavor and presses them extract the oil. His process eliminates the older, traditional process in which the paste was mixed with water to bring the oil to the surface, and then collected for use. This improves the quality and prolongs the life of the oil. Still, it takes from 15-25 hours to produce 3 kg of kernels needed to produce one liter of argan oil.

Argan oil’s has many recognized healthful properties and uses that make it very popular. It contains many antioxidants and is rich in vitamin E, making it an ideal ingredient for many skin creams and other cosmetic products. The rich aroma and nutty flavor of argan oil make it an exotic ingredient in the kitchens of gourmet chefs around the world and, in 2001,was mentioned in the New York Times as gaining favor among some chefs in th New York area. Now, the outside world is learning the medicinal and cosmetic uses that for centuries have been an exclusive province of the Berber people of southwestern Morocco. The argan nut is unique in and of itself and therefore cannot be fully replaced by any other product.