More Argan oil. It starts off as a spiky tree getting climbed on by goats in the desert, then it gets processed by the women at the co-op and turned into soap and shampoo and cooking oil and shingle for the car park (bottom left). Read the wording on the info poster if you can be bothered, it's quite funny.
by hannahgrrrl
Showing posts with label argan tree. Show all posts
Showing posts with label argan tree. Show all posts
What's Argan Oil?
What's Argan oil?
Argan oil comes from the argan tree (Argania Spinosa), an endemic tree in southwestern Morocco. Used locally for centuries, nowadays argan oil is attracting increasing interest from outside of Morocco, thanks to both its cosmetic and dietary properties.
Ancestral method of argan oil extraction
Once ripe, argan fruits are typically collected by women and brought to village where they are broken down the traditional way between two stones, (left shells are usually used to feed needed fire).
After getting rid of the shells, the almonds are then closely crushed along with some water in a handmade mill called Azerg. Then the obtained dough is kneaded repeatedly and pressed by hands to extract argan oil. The residue is conserved and used to feed own livestock. Using this traditional way, it takes more than 10 hours to produce just one liter of argan oil.
Argan almonds are gently roasted before being crushed yielding an oil used in daily kitchen recipes. For cosmetic purposes, we should use argan oil that comes from the not roasted almonds.
The production of Argan oil has always been a merely matter of those Moroccan local families. But recent exploitations of argan fruit has taken it to an even more crafty, let alone industrial level because of the publicity that has been made on the virtues of argan oil. Local women's cooperatives have joined forces to produce more of this miraculous oil the traditional way.
A part of argan oil production is intended for export to Europe, Canada and the United States, which reinforces the local socio-economical role of this magically precious oil. Some of argan oil production is meant for high level cosmetic usage after further processing in laboratories.
A summary of Argan oil benefits
- For centuries, Argan oil has been used locally for therapeutic, cookware and cosmetic purposes, today the whole world is appreciating this oil.
- Argan oil is highly rich in essential fatty acids oleic and lineoic acids (47%) as well as in vitamin E (60-90mg/1OOg) , which positively boost our skin regenerating capabilities.
- It repairs and protects the skin against droughts and external aggressions, preventing its premature aging thanks to its essential fatty acids.
- Argan oil vitamin E richness, gives its antioxidant qualities
- It protects muscles from degeneration associated with aging.
- It can be used both for internal and external purposes.
- some argan oil internal usages: Massage, for rheumatism, against hair loss, to eliminate dandruff, against acne, burns, wrinkles, to protect against skin drying.
- some argan oil internal usages: positive effect against cholesterol and atherosclerosis.
- some argan oil culinary usage: in dressings, its aroma couples very well with crudites.
- Its nutty after-taste enhances so many dishes: whether with fish or goat's cheese, with puréed sweet potatoes or a salad of carrots and oranges.
- A simple argan oil drizzle will enliven your soups, cooked dishes and even desserts.
- It adds a touch of nut and sesame, bringing an oriental flavor to your cooking,
- It enhances the prostaglandins synthesis. Argan oil contains no cholesterol, which makes it very suitable in the context of any cholesterol-free diet.
- It protects the cardiovascular system.
- For a cosmetic use, it softens the skin, revitalizes the tired and wrinkled parts by rehydrating and giving the skin its lost youthful elasticity.
- Argan oil is also highly effective as a relief middle in cases of burns, scars and the like.
- Argan oil has a strengthening effect for nails and hair.
- Argan oil is widely used in the local recipes as well as in traditional medicine as a treatment of skin diseases such as acne and chickenpox (varicella).
- Currently, it is used as a medicinal product and active ingredient in many cosmetics and increasingly used by international and famous beauty specialists.
Argan oil constitutes an important source of lipidic fat. It's estimated that argan oil production is between 3,000 and 4,000 tons, that is 1.6 percent of total Morocco oil consumption.You would appreciate knowing that to produce just one liter of argan oil you need, in good years, no less than eight argan trees. A long day of labor is needed to get such precious liter of oil : argan fruits drying, pulping, getting rid of argan nuts shells one by one and by hand, crushing and grinding roasted almonds the traditional way and finally hand-persing and extracting this legendary oil. Added to argan fruit scarcity, comes the difficulty of production. (see argan oil production steps in photos).
Enjoy this majestic Moroccan oil !
300 ha of Argan trees to be planted in southern Morocco
Essaouira (south), June 11 - Some 300 ha of Argan trees will be reforested in the south of Morocco, under a cooperation agreement signed in 2002 between Midi Pyrenees regions and the region of Marrakech-Tensift-El Haouz, revealed, here Sunday, the Mohammed V Foundation for Research and Argan Tree Preservation.
The foundation, which held its third general assembly, underlined the achievements mainly those pertaining to the notion of the geographical indication, which represents an important step in the process of the protection of the Argan tree.
The Foundation's director general, Ms Katim Alaoui, noted that the agreement also provides for the upgrading and the marketing of the argan oil by women's cooperatives.
She also pointed out that the foundation promoted the use of solar ovens by the population working on argan oil by installing 30 solar ovens in the region.
This project aims at saving firewood through the use of solar energy, given that each solar oven enables to save between 5 and 10 kg of wood a day, according to the project officials who estimate that the setting up of 500 solar ovens results in avoiding a loss of 50 to 100 ha of argan trees per year.
Set up in May 2004, the Foundation aims at guaranteeing a legal protection of the argan trees exploitation, promoting and protecting natural equilibrium, improving the standard of living of the population working on argan trees and guaranteeing the quality of the argan products.
A forest, fruit and fodder tree, the argan tree covers currently some 870,000 ha, that is around 10% of Morocco’s forest areas.
source MAP
Argan oil - The oil of miracles from the land of magics
Argan tree, the geographical exception of being local to southern Morocco, is a tree with a life spreading between 150 and 200 years. Argan tree is very resistant to drought and heat.
Argan tree geographical area span over 830,000 ha along the Atlantic coast from Essaouira (Morocco) to Souss valley (Morocco) where it represents 71% of forests. But there are colonies of Argan trees in places where they are not expected witnessing an extension of the old area.
One of the main ecological characteristics of Argan tree
lies in its adaptability to all kinds of soils. It's found on clay soils, limestone, and so on. However, it does not grow on sandy soils, hence its absence on the dunes surrounding the town of Essaouira .It is interesting to note that soil fertility is higher beneath the Argan tree where the soil is always wet and microbial activities are more important. Researchers have identified varieties of plants that owe their survival to the micro-climate Argan tree offers.
Argan tree area expands from sea level up to an altitude of 1500m southern of Morocco, and 700 m on the northern mountains of Morocco.
This ever green and thorny tree is perfectly adapted to aridity. Thanks to its deep root system, Argan tree helps maintain soil fertility, and protect it from water and wind erosion keeping away desertification threat.
Argan tree belongs to the Sapotaceae plant family. It grows in the southwest of Morocco, on dry lands, and plays an important role in the ecology of the area by maintaining humidity keeping the surrounding land fertile.
The Argan tree is characterized by its roots that are so deep (five times the upper part). It can spontaneously get rid of its leaves to minimize evaporation of moisture once traversing prolonged drought periods that may endanger its existence. Argan tree wood is used for construction and its leaves are the daily camels' food as well as that of goats which don't hesitate climbing up the tree to graze the seedlings. Argan fruits, which are concealed within a very hard shell, take two years long to reach maturity and finally be ready for the extraction of the miracle oil: the Argan oil.
Argan nuts enclose one or more almonds (up to three), containing a very thin oil with a light nutty flavor.Unfortunately, Argan tree is an endangered species due to intensive agriculture and other tree wood usages. However, UNESCO recognized in 1999, the Argan forest as a World Heritage of Humanity.
How argan oil is produced
Argan oil is produced from the fruits of the Argan tree which grows nowhere in the world except in southwestern Morocco. It is believed to date back 25,000,000 years and to have once covered N. Africa wild in semi-desert soil, its deep root system helping to protect against soil erosion.
It was first reported by the explorer Leo Africanus in 1510. Now only 860,000 hectares remain in S.W. Morocco and these are declining at a rate of 50,000h per year. Measures are being put in place to protect this rare and endangered species and in 1999 the argan was listed as a UNESCO Biosphere Heritage.
Originally uploaded by Julie70
Originally uploaded by dianjo
The most labour intensive part of oil-extraction is removal of the soft pulp (used as animal feed) and the cracking by hand, between two stones, of the hard nut. The seeds are then removed and gently roasted.
Originally uploaded by carolynalicedaly
This roasting accounts for part of the oil's distinctive, nutty flavour. The traditional technique for oil extraction is to grind the roasted seeds to paste, with a little water, in a stone rotary quern. The paste is then squeezed between hands to extract the oil.
Originally uploaded by Aceduline
Dry-pressing is now increasingly important for oil produced for sale, as the oil will keep 12-18 months and extraction is much faster.
Originally uploaded by easyondeuxize
Goats like the pulp of argan fruits and often try to climb the trees to get at them. They will digest the pulp, but shed the undigested seeds in their feces.
As these have shells that are somewhat softened and easier to crack, they are occasionally used to produce oil for non-culinary purposes. An urban legend has it that all argan oil is produced this way. This myth seems to be based on the fact that occasionally, shrewd traders would have sold (and may still try to sell) such "non-food grade" argan oil to ignorant travellers or tourists.
Originally uploaded by Maria McCann!
The fact that the nuts acquire a foul aroma in passing through the animal's digestive tract makes it easy to tell this oil apart from food-grade produce with its rich, walnut oil-like flavor.
Argan oil trees
These beautifully twisted trees dot the hills and valleys of much of southern Morocco. People here have been producing an oil for eating and as a skin cream for generations and only recently has it become a high end export (see the photo later of women grinding for more of the story on argan oil). The tree itself is a work of art and they can get fairly large. I could do a whole project just taking portraits of these trees with their distinctive personalities.
by With A Jacket For My Pillow: the journeys of Mike
Argan Trees in the Atlas Mountains, Morocco
by euanpreston
These goats love the fruit from the Argan Tree.
by Robbie's Photo Art
Goats climbing argan tree
The inner nuts of the fruits of the argan tree can be pressed to make oil that can be used in cooking or cosmetics. This process is possible even if the nuts have been through the digestive systems of climbing goats like these.
Morocco, March 2007
by s_st
Goats grazing argan tree
Goats like the pulp of argan fruits and often try to climb the trees to get them. They will digest the pulp, but shed the undigested seeds in their feces. As these have shells that are somewhat softened and easier to crack, they are occasionally used to produce oil for non-culinary purposes. An urban legend has it that all argan oil is produced this way. This myth seems to be based on the fact that occasionally, shrewd traders would have sold (and may still try to sell) such "non-food grade" argan oil to ignorant travellers or tourists. The fact that the nuts acquire a foul aroma in passing through the animal's digestive tract makes it easy to tell this oil apart from food-grade produce with its rich, walnut oil-like flavor.
By Aceduline
Argan Tree Morocco
Tree argan, which exists only in the area of the South of Morocco. A very rich oil is extracted from the fruits of this tree: oil argane, very appraisal by the companies of cosmetic. In 1999, UNESCO, declared the argan universal inheritance, and this, in order to protect it by the means of the World Network of the Biosphere (World Biosphere Network Reserve). Photo catch with Has Baamarane, tribe Berber of the South of Morocco.
Arbre arganier, qu'on ne trouve que dans la région du Sud du Maroc. Une huile très riche est extraite des fruits de cet arbre : huile d'argane, très prisée par les sociétés de cosmétique. En 1999, l'Unesco, a déclaré l'arganier patrimoine universel, et ce, afin de le protéger par le biais du Réseau Mondial de la Biosphère (World Biosphere Reserve Network).
Photo prise à Ait Baamarane, tribu berbère du Sud du Maroc.
By Alarabesque
Arbre arganier, qu'on ne trouve que dans la région du Sud du Maroc. Une huile très riche est extraite des fruits de cet arbre : huile d'argane, très prisée par les sociétés de cosmétique. En 1999, l'Unesco, a déclaré l'arganier patrimoine universel, et ce, afin de le protéger par le biais du Réseau Mondial de la Biosphère (World Biosphere Reserve Network).
Photo prise à Ait Baamarane, tribu berbère du Sud du Maroc.
By Alarabesque
Peppers and Argan oil
Argan is an endemic tree of the zone of Essaouira (Morocco), in barren zones occupies more than 650,000 has. in form of clear forests that they do not exceed the 1,500 ms of altitude. Tree of great vitality, of twisted trunks and foliage persistent of small and extended leaves, its fruits, nuts similar to the olives, that have a hard bone that contains almonds of which an orange oil very perfumed is extracted: argan. Its persistent foliage offers to the cattle a true hanging grass, to the goats it enchants to them, and they do not doubt in climbing for upper ramonear in of the tree, offering a singular image that does not happen unnoticed to the step visitor. The nuts are harvested of form similar to the harvesting of olives, of the almonds that there are inside the bone is extracted the perfumed oil, is an oil of strong flavor, that is used as much in the Moroccan gastronomy within the kitchen as in crude. Also curativos powers are attributed to him, reason why we found it in herbolisterias and the stores of homeopatía. The almonds of the bones are extracted and they are ground in stone mills of small size that there is in the Moroccan rural houses. They do lack 100 kg of mature fruits and ten working hours with a homemade mill to obtain a liter of oil.
By escribirconlacabeza
Morocco to create 3 biosphere reserves including Argan
Agadir (southwest), Feb. 28 - Morocco is due to create three biosphere reserves, part of a national strategy for protected natural areas, revealed, here Monday, Water and Forest Commissioner, Abdeladim El Hafi.
The reserves include an Argan reserve (RBA), an oases reserve, south (RBOSM) and an intercontinental Mediterranean Reserve (RBIM), El Hafi told MAP at the end of a workshop on sustainable tourism, adding that the RBIM, which enjoys the UNESCO backing, is a unique in the world as it links Africa and Europe.
He said that the geographic, climate and cultural similarities between southern Spain and northern Morocco were behind the creation of this reserve, which covers an area of 1.000.000 ha, noting that the project aims at enabling the two countries share experiences and cooperate in managing and protecting natural resources.
A plan to set up a Cedar Biosphere Reserve in the Middle Atlas is also being devised to safeguard this tree, due to its important role in regulating the water cycle, in an area that contains more than 40% of water resources in Morocco, he said.
El Hafi recalled that Morocco ranks second -after Turkey- in the Mediterranean in terms of biodiversity richness, its natural resources remain however "Fragile and not protected enough, which requires the setting up of a national network to protect natural areas."
The national strategy for protected natural areas revolves around three axes, namely restoring and developing polluted environments, and promoting eco-tourism products.
King launches construction of argan-oil extraction unit in Agadir
Agadir, May 25 - King Mohammed VI laid on Thursday in Agadir (600km south of Rabat the foundation stone of the construction of an argan-oil extraction unit.
The USD 300,000 project is meant to improve the revenues of women and families living in underprivileged villages.
Built on 380 m², the unit will contribute in protecting the argan tree through promoting its products, providing literacy and training courses to women and developing wealth-generating activities in the rural world.
The project is part of the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH) for the south-western region of
Souss-Massa-Daraa region, which is allotted USD 115Mn to fight poverty and social exclusion in the region.
In 2006, INDH programs in the region were allotted USD 28Mn to improve human development indicators through poverty reduction, social integration, improving citizens’ life conditions and reinforcing good governance.
According to Regional Director of the Water and Forests Department, Abdelkrim Azenfar, some 1400 hectares of argan tree land are to be replanted with the endemic tree in Souss-Massa-Draa in 2006.
The tree almond-like nuts are processed into argan oil. The oil is edible, mingled to ground almonds and honey we obtain a peanut butter like paste. The tree nuts and leaves are feed for goats, mainly. The tree also provides firewood for local populations.
The Moroccans have been using for centuries the Argan oil as food as well as a beauty product, notably as an ointment for skin and hair. The oil is relatively rich in vitamin E and is antioxidant that can limit the appearance of wrinkles.
The Soussis and the Moroccans at large use it to remedy arthritis and for some decades it has been used to lower cholesterol rate and hence prevent heart diseases.
The Argan tree (argania spinosa) grows in a harsh environment, surviving heat, drought and poor soil. It is little known outside Morocco, and many Moroccans themselves have never heard of it because it grows only in the south-west of the country - roughly between Essaouira and Agadir, in an area covering 700,000-800,000 hectares.
But within the area where the Argan grows there are about 21 million trees, which play a vital role in the food chain and the environment, though their numbers are declining. The tree, which is thorny and can reach heights of 8-10 metres, probably originated in Argana, a village north-east of Agadir (off Route 40). It lives longer than the olive and requires no cultivation.
The production of Argan oil, which is still mostly done by traditional methods, is a lengthy process. Each nut has to be cracked open to remove the kernel, and it is said that producing one liter of oil takes 20 hours' work.
source MAP
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