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Wild
Wood Groves in Morocco
WILD WOOD GROVES UK & BAB EL OUED D’ARGAN MOROCCO has built its own Argan Oil production centre in the heart
of the Argan region (east of Agadir) in Morocco.
Our aim is that the local Berber women, who traditionally make this
oil benefit from good wages and working conditions. We plan to
introduce literacy and other educational training.
"We want to create an ethical trade production centre run on a
stakeholder system‚ We are planning to link with the Moroccan
Tourist Board to organize tours of the centre as well as become
involved in social development projects, such as education and
onsite child care for employees children." - Ruth Hajioff in 2003
Believed to be the rarest oil in the world, Argan is rich in Vitamin
E and anti-oxidants with many health benefits. For more information
visit the
Properties page.
Our Gold Award winning Argan food oil is extra-virgin and
cold-pressed. Besides having a rich nutty and slightly smoky flavour
it is 80% unsaturated and rich in essential fatty acids.
Our unique skin care range is made from cold-pressed cosmetic Argan
oil, a pure natural skin food, rich in anti-oxidants and
free-radical fighting agents Click
here to visit our shop
It is time consuming and laborious to produce Argan Oil. The fruits
are hand gathered from the ground in the late summer. The fruit is
peeled from the hard nuts which are individually cracked between
heavy stones; each one yielding a small almond shaped seed. These
are then pressed to release their precious oil. In all 2 days work
is needed to produce a single litre.
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Strict quality control is maintained throughout by Moulay Hassan
Daoui the co-director of Bab el Oued d’Argan and local argan
expert. Independent analysis is carried out on the oil.
In the future we hope to welcome visitors to drink mint tea in our
garden and observe the various stages in preparing premium quality
oils for food and cosmetic uses. They will be able to see a sacred
Argan tree nearby and learn about the Argans’ unique place in the
lives of the local community.
Sustainability
The Argan tree now grows only in SW Morocco .It is believed to date
back 25.000.000 years and to have once covered N. Africa. Now
endangered and under protection of UNESCO, the Argan grows wild in
semi-desert soil, its deep root system helping to protect against
soil erosion and the northern advance of the Sahara.
Click here for more information on the Trees
Wild Wood Groves is committed to ethical trading in its oil
production and contributing to the conservation of this rare
species. Providing an income for making Argan oil discourages use of
the wood as charcoal and for building thus ensuring a unique
heritage for future generations.
In May 2005 Ruth was invited to become a member of
the newly formed Mohammed VI Foundation for Research and Protection
of the Argan Tree.
Ruth Hajioff attended a charity gala dinner and participated in the
Moroccan Cultural Week held in the Covent Garden Piazza in 2003,
read the letter she received from Ali El Kasmi, Director of the
Moroccan Tourist Board for UK and Eire.
Click here.
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