Visiting an Argan Oil Cooperative: How It Works, What to Buy and How to Spot Fakes

On the road from Marrakech to Essaouira, and all across south-western Morocco, you will see low, thorny trees with twisted trunks: argan trees. They grow almost nowhere else in the world, and from their nuts comes one of Morocco’s most famous products, argan oil. Visiting a women’s cooperative where it is made is one of the most interesting stops of an Essaouira day trip — provided you know what to look for.

A tree unique to Morocco

The argan tree is adapted to the dry, hot climate of the Souss and the Atlantic plains. Its deep roots hold the soil and protect it from desertification, and the forests it forms are recognised by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve. For centuries, local Amazigh families have used every part of the tree: the wood for fuel, the leaves and pulp to feed goats, and the kernels for oil.

How argan oil is made

The process is long and still largely done by hand, mostly by women:

1. Harvesting and drying the fruits, which fall from the trees in summer.
2. Removing the dried pulp to reveal a very hard nut.
3. Cracking the nuts between two stones — a skilled, patient task — to extract one to three small kernels.
4. For culinary oil, the kernels are lightly roasted, then ground into a paste and kneaded to release the oil. For cosmetic oil, the kernels are not roasted and are usually cold-pressed.

It takes many kilos of fruit and long hours of work to produce a single litre. That is why genuine argan oil is never cheap.

What happens in a cooperative

Many cooperatives were created to give women a fair income from this work. A typical visit is short and free: you see women cracking nuts and grinding kernels on traditional stone mills, you learn the steps, and you can taste culinary oil with bread and amlou — a delicious spread of roasted almonds, argan oil and honey. The visit ends in a shop selling oils, creams, soaps and amlou. There is no obligation to buy, but buying directly supports the women who work there.

Cosmetic or culinary?

• Culinary argan oil is golden to amber, with a nutty, toasted aroma. Use it raw: drizzled on salads, couscous, tagines or bread for breakfast.
• Cosmetic argan oil is pale and smells very faint. It is used on skin, hair and nails.

Do not cook with cosmetic oil or put culinary oil on your face — they are different products.

How to recognise genuine argan oil

• The price: if it seems too cheap, it is probably diluted with other oils.
• The smell: culinary oil smells toasted; cosmetic oil smells very light, never rancid or perfumed.
• The label: look for “100% argan oil”, the producer’s name and, ideally, the protected geographical indication Argane.
• The bottle: dark glass protects the oil from light; avoid unlabelled plastic bottles in souks.
• The source: buying at a cooperative or a reputable shop is safer than from street sellers.

The goats in the trees

You have probably seen photos of goats perched in argan trees. Goats really do climb argan trees to eat leaves and fruit — but the groups you see right beside the Essaouira road are often placed there by herders for tourists’ photos, with a tip expected. It is your choice whether to stop; many travellers prefer to look from the vehicle or to see goats grazing naturally in the countryside further from the main road. Your driver can suggest where.

Where to visit

The most convenient cooperatives are along the Marrakech–Essaouira road, especially in the last hour before Essaouira, and around Agadir and Taghazout for those staying on the southern coast. Your driver knows several and can choose a cooperative that welcomes visitors properly, without pressure. It also makes a pleasant stop on the Agadir to Essaouira coastal transfer or the Agadir to Marrakech route.

How to include it in your trip

• Essaouira day trip from Marrakech: a cooperative stop on the way out or back, about 30–45 minutes. Read our Essaouira itinerary.
• Transfers between Marrakech, Essaouira and Agadir: ask for a cooperative stop when booking.
• Private driver days: combine a cooperative with a cooking class or village visit — see our Berber cooking and village guide.

Practical tips

• Carry cash: smaller cooperatives may not take cards.
• Ask for small bottles if you fly with hand luggage only (liquids over 100 ml must go in the hold).
• Wrap bottles in clothes in your suitcase.
• Taste amlou before buying a jar — it is addictive.

In short

A visit to an argan cooperative is a short, authentic glimpse into rural Morocco and the work of the women who make its most famous product. Go with a driver who knows the honest places, taste before you buy, check the label, and you will bring home the real thing.