The Argan oil Gundara offers is an organic product manually produced in the women's cooperative Marjana (near Essaouira) from the kernels of the argan tree (Argania spinosa) which is endemic and only grows in the south-west of Morocco. Argan oil is valued for its nutritive properties. Our bottles contain 250ml of the finest organic argan oil with its famous nutty taste. Argan oil is mainly used for cold dishes such as salads.

The fruits of the argan tree are nut-sized. The may be round, oval or conical in shape. The fruits are covered by a thick peel which covers the fleshy pulp. The pulp surrounds a hard-shelled nut. Contained within the nut are one to three argan oil-rich kernels. Argan oil is extracted from these kernels. Argan oil yields vary from 30%-55% depending on the method of extraction.

Extraction of the kernels is key to the argan oil production process. In order to extract the kernels, the argan fruits are first dried in the open air. As a next step the fleshy pulp of the fruit is removed. The flesh is usually used as feed for animals. The argan nut is then manually cracked to obtain the argan kernels which is a labor-intensive process.

Kernels used to make argan oil for food use are gently roasted. After the argan kernels have cooled down, they are ground and pressed with the help of a stone press. The brown-colored mash that comes out of those presses expels pure, unfiltered argan oil. After this, unfiltered argan oil is decanted into vessels. After pressing, the argan oil is decanted. It is then left to rest for about two weeks. This allows solids to settle to the bottom. A natural sediment is created. Pure argan oil may contain some sediment.