Several women's argan oil cooperatives operate in and around Taroudant, and visiting one is genuinely worthwhile — not just for buying oil, but for seeing how it's made. Workers crack the impossibly hard argan nuts by hand (a skill that takes months to learn), grind the kernels on stone mills, and knead the paste until golden oil emerges. The process is slow and labour-intensive, which is why good argan oil is expensive.
Culinary argan oil (used for amlou, a local dip made with argan, almonds, and honey) is roasted before pressing and has a nutty, rich flavour. Cosmetic argan oil is cold-pressed. Most cooperatives sell both, along with argan-based beauty products at reasonable prices. Buy here rather than in Agadir or Marrakesh — prices are lower and the quality is more reliably the real thing. The Souss plain around Taroudant produces some of the best argan in the country.