ARGAN OIL IN ITS PUREST STATE FROM THE FORESTS OF MOROCCO
What started as a small item for sale at the counter at Caravan & Co has become a local sensation, resulting in an extra income stream for a small tight-knit community in Morocco.
Argan nut foraging has long been a part of the economy for Hassan El Kour and his family. The trees, which come from this region of Morocco, produce a nut which has become popular over the years for a wide range of uses. The oil, with its distinctive nutty aroma, is now often used as a component in cosmetics and haircare. Nourishing without being oily, this oil is held locally to be great for scarring and tissue regeneration. Many people within the community grew up with the health benefits – at the village the nuts are roasted and often eaten for breakfast. But the sourcing of the Argan oil direct from the community in its purest state is what helps to provide a vital income stream for a remote community.
Emily and Hassan met while on their travels, and it was this relationship that eventually sparked the idea to trial the oil in the store in New Zealand. The trial on the counter at Caravan & Co’s Kāpiti store quickly proved a hit – so much so that the supply was recently exhausted. Now back in stock, Caravan & Co are once again stocking the range, and giving small tester vials to people who shop in-store. Caravan & Co was started eighteen years ago and since then has grown into a brand focused on helping remote communities become more selfsufficient. As well as this, Emily hopes that the store can gradually introduce lines that give New Zealanders an experience of a faraway culture.
Argan oil is available directly through Caravan & Co’s Kāpiti store. As a special separate promotion, 100% of the revenue for every purchase of Moroccan slippers from Caravan & Co will go to support communities dealing with the devastating recent earthquake in Morocco.