Argan Oil: Morocco's Liquid Gold
The argan tree grows in one place on Earth: the UNESCO-listed arganeraie between Essaouira, Agadir and the Anti-Atlas. From its kernels, Amazigh women have pressed argan oil for centuries - today the world's most sought-after beauty oil and one of Morocco's iconic souvenirs. Here is how to understand it, taste it and buy the real thing.
Two Oils, Two Uses
| Type | What it is |
|---|---|
| Culinary argan oil | Pressed from toasted kernels - nutty, golden-brown, drizzled on salads, couscous and grilled fish. The base of amlou, the addictive almond-argan-honey spread. |
| Cosmetic argan oil | Pressed from raw kernels - lighter color, nearly odorless. Rich in vitamin E and fatty acids: face, hair, nails, and the base of countless creams. |
How It Is Made
It takes roughly 30 kg of fruit and hours of hand-cracking to produce one liter. In the traditional method, women crack the nuts between stones, grind the kernels in a stone quern and knead the paste - which is why genuine oil cannot be cheap, and why the women's cooperatives of the Souss (many founded since the 1990s) matter: fair income, collective equipment, quality control.
Prices and Spotting Fakes
- Realistic price (2026): about 80 - 150 Dhs for 250 ml of certified oil at a cooperative; noticeably cheaper "argan" in tourist souks is usually cut with cheaper oils.
- Checks: buy at a cooperative or pharmacy; look for a pressing date and certification label; cosmetic oil should be nearly scentless (rancid or strong smell = poor or old oil); culinary oil should smell warmly of toasted nuts.
- The goat trees: yes, the goats standing in argan trees on the Essaouira road are real behavior - though some roadside troupes are staged for photos (a tip is expected).
Where to Buy
Cooperatives dot the Essaouira - Agadir road and the Souss valley; city pharmacies and reputable organic shops are reliable too. At the souk, use your bargaining skills for the pretty bottles, not for the oil quality itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is argan oil so expensive?
Because the tree grows only in southwest Morocco and one liter demands about 30 kg of fruit processed largely by hand. Cheap argan oil is, almost by definition, not argan oil.
Can you cook with cosmetic argan oil?
No - and you would not want to: culinary oil comes from toasted kernels and carries the flavor. Buy the two separately, clearly labeled.
What is amlou?
Morocco's answer to chocolate spread: ground almonds, culinary argan oil and honey. Eaten with msemen or bread at breakfast - try it once and you will carry a jar home.
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