Goats in Trees and the Making of Moroccan Argan Oil

Driving along the west coast of Morocco, we turned inland at Agadir. We passed several roadside vendors offering Moroccan argan oil, but we didn’t stop. We were on a mission to find goats in trees. Were the rumours true, where does argan oil come from? Could goats actually be the first step in the making of Moroccan argan oil?

Argon oil sold on the side of the road as we drove south of Essaouira in Morocco.

We were told we would see goats in trees between Marrakesh and Essaouira, but we didn’t. Again between Essaouira and Agadir, there were none.

A barren and misty coastline as we drove from Essaouira to Agadir in Morocco.

Now we were heading to the interior. At least the driving was easier outside of Marrakesh. There were fewer drivers on the roads cutting us off, donkey carts now stayed on the shoulder, and almost no pedestrians ran randomly in front of the car. The ever changing views are dotted with litter, and finally, there they were: the goats in trees.

The goats soften the husk and process the argan seed.

Where does argan oil come from?

Moroccan argan oil is made from the seed of the Argania Spinosa (Argan Tree), a native to the Souss-Massa-Drâa region of Morocco and Algeria.  While the traditional method allows the goats to processes the nuts first, as this softens the husk, some Berber women will hand pick and open the nut to get at the seed.

(Yes, we are talking about retrieving the seeds from the goat poop according to CBS News, much the same as the famous kopi luwak coffee is from beans processed through a civet.)

The next step in the process is to laboriously hand grind the seeds thus producing the oil. Often a family business, we were lucky to be invited into a home where they process the argan seeds. The two women worked non-stop. While they allowed me to take their photos, they requested that I not include their faces.

The argon seeds are in the baskets on the table.

Moroccan argan oil is often referred to as a miracle oil or liquid gold. Its benefits to skin and hair are well known. It’s also thought to aid in digestion, reduce joint pain, and stabilize blood sugar. We were able to apply a few drops on our skin, and also offered a small bowl of argan oil and bread for dipping. It’s smooth with a pleasant aroma, and an acquired taste.

Practical Information and Tips on Goats in Trees and Taroudant

• There is usually a goat herder with the animals. Standard practice is to offer a few coins in payment for taking photos.
• While we wonder if we could have brought fresh Moroccan argan oil back home to New Zealand (as we have strict biosecurity laws), I regret not purchasing more of the oil at the Moroccan prices. Today, Moroccan argan oil seems to be a common ingredient in hair and skin products.
• While in the region, we treated ourselves to a bit of luxurious relaxation at Riad Jnane Ines in Taroudant. Fragrant lemon trees, a beautifully manicured garden, an outdoor pool, and a wellness centre with a hammam bath made this a day of paradise amidst the hustle of Morocco.
  

  The pool at Riad Jnane Ines was the typical keyhole shape often used for Moroccan doorways.

  

  Taroudant is a mix of the traditional and modern lifestyles. We ate dinner at the pizza restaurant in the corner after our vegetarian daughter discovered that the adorable rabbits and chickens in the garden were on the dinner menu at the Riad.

• If you are headed to Morocco, pick up a copy of Lonely Planet’s Morocco Travel Guide.
• This is another post in my throwback series encouraged by moving all my photos to Lightroom. We visited Morocco in 2012, travelling by train from Fes to Marrakesh. Here we hired a car and headed first to Essaouira on the west coast, then south to Agadir before turning inland and passing through Taroudant on the way to the Sahara.

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Have you seen goats in trees? Did you know that Moroccan argan oil seeds are first processed through a goat?