Can you visit a working argan oil cooperative near Essaouira?

Yes, the road between Marrakech and Essaouira is lined with women’s argan oil cooperatives you can visit, where you see the nuts cracked and pressed by hand and can buy culinary and cosmetic oil directly. Stopping at a genuine cooperative supports local women and gets you better-quality oil than the souks.

At a real cooperative you’ll watch the labour-intensive process — women cracking the hard argan nuts and grinding the kernels — and taste amlou, the delicious argan-almond-honey spread. Look for a proper women’s cooperative rather than a roadside shop simply badged as one.

It’s an easy, worthwhile stop on a day trip or transfer to Essaouira, and a good place to buy oil to take home. Ask your driver or tour to include a stop at a legitimate cooperative.