Essaouira Shopping Tips by JLBG Top 5 Page for this destination

Byproduct paste.

When the almond paste has been completely extracted, the remaining paste is a brownish paste the is still a good food given to goats. It is possible to visit Argan oil producing cooperatives but I had not the opportunity to do it.

Theme: Food and Drink

Extraction of the oil.

The fourth step in mixing a long time the almond paste by hand, which will allow the extraction of the oil. On the left of the picture, the stone mill is better seen than on the previous picture, where it was used.

Theme: Food and Drink

Grinding the almonds

The third step is grinding the almonds. This picture shows the grinding on a traditional stone grinder. A round stone is fitted with a wooden handle so that it is easier to move. It is moved by hand on a still stone mill until all the almonds are thinly ground.

Theme: Food and Drink

Roasting the almonds

The second step for the production of Argan oil is to roast gently the almonds in a pan. On this picture, the pan is heated on a "Camping gaz" bottle. Traditionally, it was roasted on charcoal. It is really craftwork and not industry !

Theme: Food and Drink

Sorting the Argan fruits.

The "Union des Coopératives des Femmes pour la production et la commercialisation de l’huile d’Argane et des produits agricoles" (UCFA) produces pure traditional argan oil and other products under the trade name "Tissaliwine". The Union comprises four cooperatives with over 150 women. The participating villages are within the Arganerie Biosphere Reserve, officially recognized by the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere program in 1999.

What to buy: The following pictures are not mine but taken from a leaflet attached to an Argan oil bottle. The first step is to sort the fruits and take the almond out.

Theme: Food and Drink

Argan oil

From previous tips, it might seem wise to buy argan oil in Essaouira. Actually, most shops in the Essaouira medina sell argan oil, but, for the same brand, it is about twice the price you can have it in any Marjan department store (look at my Rabat page)

Theme: Local Craft

Branch of an argan tree

The fruits can be seen clearly on this close-up picture. They are light green and look like young olives. This is what the goats are looking for when they climb in the argan trees. At this point, they do not contain any oil.

Theme: Local Craft

Argan tree

The argan tree is specific from the region of Essaouira. On the biggest trees, goats climb up to the top to eat the leaves and the young fruits. You should see that. It is not shown on this photo, as we have not seen that this time. I will add a picture taken on a previous travel.

Theme: Local Craft

Thuya wood

The most typical articraft of Essaouira, is carved thuya. Everywhere in the medina, you will find various objects in thuya wood. It has a very distinctive aspect and a scent of its own that will last for years. Anyway, you have better buy them in the Vilarmar articraft complex in Salé where they will be less expensive !

Theme: Local Craft

Thuya tree

This tree is a thuya. (Thuya orientalis), Chinese Arborvitae or Oriental Arbor-vitae. Though its name refers to China, it grows wild in many parts of Morocco and especially around Essaouira. It is different from Thuya occidentalis, Eastern Arborvitae or American Arborvitae, widly cultivated both in Northern America and in Europe.

Theme: Local Craft