RED magazine October 2006

So Moorish

“Moroccan dishes conjure up the magic of the Medina”

Making it authentic

You can buy lots of the more difficult-to-find Moroccan ingredients online and mail order www.wildwoodgroves.com sells saffron, extra-virgin argan oil and amlou - a spread made from ground almonds and argan oil, which is supposed to be an aphrodisiac.

Flavours of the souk

Argan oil. This pungent nutty oil is wonderful on salads, roasted vegetables, grilled goats cheese, swirled into soups, stirred into couscous or simply as a dipping oil for bread. Use it sparingly and at the end of cooking to enjoy its distinctive flavour at its best...

What Really Works (www.whatreallyworks.co.uk)

"This wonderful new product comes from the nuts of Argan trees...The oil, which was discovered by Ruth Hajioff while researching Moroccan Herbal medicine, is now produced using fair trade employment, which supports social projects such as health care and education for the women who work there... It can be eaten – traditionally sprinkled on food or added to soups, cous cous, and tagines - but can also be used externally, on the face to keep skin supple and treat acne, psoriasis, and chicken pox scars, and elsewhere. Berber women have known about its skin preservation properties for years!"

Alternative Ageing - the natural way to hold back the years - Suzi Grant

"Argan oil is one of my very favourite “speciality” oils to make a starter or a salad that little bit different. It is extracted from the Moroccan Argan nut tree and has been used by the Berber women for centuries to serve for breakfast, with freshly baked bread, sprinkled on salads and vegetables or tajines and cous cous. It has a delicious, rich, nutty flavour and is being heralded by chefs like Antony Worrall Thompson as new ‘trendy’ oil.

Health-wise Argan oil is superb; like all other nut oils, it is very low in saturated fats, as well as having a good profile of Omega 6 essential fats.  Argan oil contains almost twice as much vitamin E as olive oil, is rich in antioxidants and contains rare plant sterols, not found in other oils, that give it anti-inflammatory properties that have successfully helped treat rheumatic joint pain, blocked arteries and high cholesterol.   It is also a good liver and gall bladder supporter.

Argan oil is so rich in Vitamin E that it is used by Moroccan women for protecting and nourishing their skin and has been used successfully to reduce scarring, acne and psoriasis.  Try it internally and externally for its anti-ageing effects."

Available on Amazon

Or visit the website www.suzigrant.com

The Green Parent - April/May 2006

"Where the Wild Things Are"

The story of Wild Wood Groves is a passionate and interesting one.

Ruth Hajioff started her career as an acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist. In 2000 she visited Morocco to study with a famed herbalist based in Agadir. It was he who introduced her to argan oil and its amazing health-giving properties.

Doing background research into the oil she found that the tree falls under the protection of UNESCO, who have designated the trees as a World Heritage site.
The oil is harvested and pressed using traditional methods by Berber tribeswomen and preserves an ancient way of life which has all but disappeared in more developed areas. As a result of the trip, Ruth made the life-changing decision to pursue a new career developing and selling argan in the UK and Europe.

Her goal was to promote the benefits of argan, both for good health and as a delicious food. The key for Ruth was being able to do all this while remaining true to the conservation of the argan tree and the lifestyle of the Berber people who make their living from it.

Wild Wood Groves products are made at an ethical-trade production centre near Agadir. Work at the centre preserves the traditional methods of production. The preparation is still carried out by hand, and it can take up to ten hours to crack enough nuts to produce one litre of finest quality oil. The work is continued by the Berber tribeswomen who work and are paid in line with fair trade standards. Moulay Hassan Daoui, an argan expert, sources the best local fruit and supervises production and Ruth works tirelessly to promote both the oil and the region she loves."

"Wild Wood Groves argan oil is cold pressed and completely natural. It is rich in vitamin E, which restores dry skin and reduces wrinkles. The oil can be used during pregnancy as it improves elasticity and nutrient levels in the skin ceils, softens scars and helps prevent stretch marks. The argan oil is gentle enough for baby's delicate skin and is traditionally used to treat dry eczema, acne & chicken pox."

 

January Live it!  Naturally magazine 2006

IF YOU GO DOWN TO THE WOODS TODAY
Fabulous new products from Wild Wood Groves!

"Wild Wood Groves unique range of skin care products is based on pure argan oil blended with the finest essential oils. Rich in vitamin E and anti-oxidants, argan helps maintain a healthy complexion.
A pure natural skin food, it reduces fine lines and protects against the damaging effects of free-radicals. The range includes a baby blend, gentle enough for baby's sore dry patches and skin problems, as well as men's blend and a rescue serum for tired dehydrated skin.
Wild Wood Groves argan oil is cold-pressed from the seeds of the argan tree at their purpose built ethical trade women's production centre in Morocco.

Sustainability
this rare and endangered tree, believed to date back to the Tertiary period 25,000,000 years ago, now grows only in south west Morocco and is protected by UNESCO as a Biosphere Heritage. It grows wild in semi desert soil, it's deep roots binding the soil and helping to protect against the northern advance of the Sahara.
Buying this oil protects the trees by providing a fair income from its seeds and discouraging its use as wood and charcoal."