Once upon a time in the early days of Arganic when hardly anyone in the UK knew what argan oil was, a (wise) older man at a tasting event tried the oil only to then ask me if it was high in Vitamin E. He explained that he needed to take Vitamin E supplements for his health and that he could actually taste the Vitamin E in our oil.
Argan oil is one of the richest natural sources of Vitamin E you can get, containing up to 3 times the amount of Vitamin E compared to olive oil.
What is Vitamin E good for?
Why is it important to get it naturally?
Artificially extracted is never the same because it does not replicate the chemistry of natural sources, meaning your body doesn’t absorb it in the same way... if it doesn’t simply reject it completely! Supplements can cause stomach aches and be toxic for the body, so if you find a good natural source then run for it and hold it close.
Arganic is different to other culinary argan oils on the market in that it is not burned, hence the colour of our oil is lighter. Ours is also freshly pressed immediately after extraction, rather than buying in stale, readily extracted seeds in sacks which have oxidised. With Arganic you can be assured that the precious nutrients of this liquid gold are intact. Sharing the best of nature with integrity Is how we like to look at it.
Still not convinced?
What’s better than freshly baked bread (to dunk into argan oil)? Well, a freshly posted customer review!
''I can't live without Argan!
I am now hooked on culinary argan oil from Arganic and can't imagine life without it! I use it for breakfast, lunch and supper. Not only does it enhance food but, after using the oil regularly for several years, l am convinced my joints are benefitting so gardening, walking and running are less bothersome.
Thank you Arganic!''
Thank YOU Susan!
We recommend 1-2 tablespoons daily for noticable results.
Want to go wild with it?
As well as taking it as a health supplement there are so many ways to fully enjoy the flavour. What am I daydreaming about right now? A fig (currently in season), green leaf, mozzarella and almond salad, dressed with argan oil, balsamic vinegar, wholegrain mustard, salt and loads of black pepper. On afterthought, maybe some orange zest too, yes yes I’m so crazy I know!
For more ideas on how to enjoy your culinary argan oil, have a look here. To purchase immediately, click here :)
Happy day, happy weekend, happy life!
Love Dana and the Arganic Team
x
"Your argan oil elevates the taste of the humblest meal to become exquisite, exotic and delicious… an excellent product that reflects the care taken to produce it." - Tom Hunt, The Sustainable Chef
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This video interview with our founder Dana Elemara shares a bit about argan oil and how to use it for cosmetic and culinary purposes.
The full article which you can access here highlights the benefits of a slow, holistic, sustainable approaches to beauty as is common place in North Africa and’ the Middle East.
It also shares some of Dana's motivation behind Arganic which includes her Arab English identity struggles!
“I found a gap in the market (and) I understand the Western culture well, because I was born into it. But I also genuinely understand and love the Middle Eastern and North African culture, and I felt like I could do what I do with integrity for that reason, and show the positive and beautiful sides of North Africa and the Middle East that sometimes just get lost in the news.”
We hope you enjoy watching and reading!
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At Arganic, we look further than New Year Resolutions. We believe in a commitment to improving yourself slowly but surely everyday, while enjoying the process. The new year follows a period of downtime and indulgence for most, so naturally it’s a good time to reset.
If you are focused on improving your health and are feeling overwhelmed by all the advice and messages on this subject, we wanted to share our founder’s ‘safe’ and solid tips to feeling great and looking your best, for good!
We know that everyone has different means both financially and time wise but we can all make tweaks to the personal situation we are in. If staying healthy sounds expensive or time consuming, there are a few things to bear in mind.
Love,
Dana
]]>Sustainability is not about being perfect, it’s about bringing more good than bad into the world, and constantly improving. We feel it’s important to share this because the first step towards a better world is being honest about where we are at and what we are working with.
The modern world and the politics that govern business, the way we farm and more mean that it’s hard work as conscious consumers or ethically minded businesses to do our bit. We exist amongst an broken system after all, and we have to navigate within that system.
It’s okay to make compromises for the greater good at times, if overall (we like to aim for at least 80% of the time) we are actively living a conscientious life and we are honest to ourselves. Rather than simply box ticking in relation to the latest green trend (something that is suspiciously easy to do these days) we need to keep learning, do our own research, be absolutely present in what we are doing and truly believe in it.
And remember, it’s about leaving the world a better place and shouldn’t be a tool to make us look better for our own ego. It’s sometimes the ones that are the quietest that are busy doing the good stuff!
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Let’s face it, it’s that time of year where presents are on the mind. We thought we’d make it easy for you by telling you why our ‘Inside-Out Beauty’ set is the perfect gift solution for your girlfriend, brother, mother, bestie, teacher and of course for yourself!
Key Features:
Why it makes for the perfect gift:
You can purchase our gift set on our website now.
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Sustainability is in everything we stand for and has been since we launched in 2012. Our values haven’t changed, in fact we are constantly improving over time.
Aside from the obvious and making sure we keep as low carbon footprint as possible, we believe in a sustainable approach to life, what comes into this is the concept of ‘slow living’. We don’t believe in quick fixes or complicated beauty regimes, less is more, and better for our environment.
We also believe that quality is key. If a product doesn’t work or benefit you then it’s simply unnecessary waste and a depletion of precious resources.
We don’t operate with any middlemen thus reducing the journey, our carbon footprint, and providing full value for our customers. All while paying our makers a fair wage.
There is no waste as a result of producing our oil, every byproduct is put to good use and choosing Arganic means supporting regenerative agricultural practices.
'‘I think having land and not ruining it is the most beautiful art that anybody could ever want to own''Andy Warhol |
In my opinion it’s not okay for a business to make money at the negative expense of others or to use and benefit from the best parts of a culture that you don’t credit or support.
I recently was able to go back to Morocco for the first time since the pandemic started and I fell in love with it again.
With Morocco you need to venture out to places further afield to Marrakech to really experience it and it’s worth it because you’ll meet some of the kindest and more generous people in your life. You’ll be fed like royalty and be amazed by all that nature has to offer from the mountains to the desert and more.
I have so many stories to share. This time round there was a woman I crossed paths with who was in real hardship and in a tricky situation, it was heartbreaking especially as you could see that she had so much potential and talent. I told her I loved her outfit and asked where she had got it from. It turns out she designed it herself and got a local tailor to make it. The next day she told me she’d washed it and she insisted on gifting it to me, I wore it for much of the rest of the trip. This warmth and kindness is typical of Morocco.
Many of you love our oil and it’s important to know where it comes from and what it represents!
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Whether you are holidaying at home or abroad this summer, there is really only one essential product you need in your toiletries bag - argan oil - one effective and natural multi-purpose product to keep everything and everyone hydrated on holiday!
Here are the reasons why:
Our cosmetic organic argan oil 50ml is the perfect travel size.
Order here today.
Below is a little video our founder Dana made while on a work-action ( way back when work-actions, city breaks etc were still a thing - remember those days!!!) with her top argan oil travel tips.
Wishing you all happy, glowing holidays!
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She joined the Arganic team in October 2020 and here she shares her thoughts on a very interesting topic, the similarities between starting a business and becoming a first time mum!
I arrive at Mother’s Day 2021 with a slightly different perspective than previous years, because it’s the first time I’m seeing it through the eyes of a parent and mother. Last summer I was fortunate enough to have a baby girl who entered my world and set it spinning in a way that I now realise was impossible to imagine before it actually happened. I’d observed parenthood through others which looked like a combination of chaos, relentlessness, emotional highs and energetic lows coupled with a consistent narrative that assured me / them (?) that the moments of bliss made it all worthwhile.
My own experience so far has certainly been all of these things, but the depth and complexity of each of them blew my mind and I couldn’t help but reflect that so much of what I was feeling was reminiscent of starting a business for the first time. In both cases no amount of research can ever fully prepare you for the journey, milestone markers of progress rarely match up to any published benchmark, and the learning curve means that when you think you’ve cracked something, you have but a moment to catch your breath before the next curveball comes flying. Time itself holds an elastic currency that can last forever as well as pass like quicksand. Some days can feel like weeks, yet weeks seem to pass quickly against a timeline that you’re encouraged by others to enjoy because you’ll be on the next phase before you know it. Some moments make you wonder if it’s supposed to be this hard but we all know the best things in life rarely arrive without sleepless nights & a lot of nurture.
Both rollercoasters provide big thrills, great views when you remember to look up and hopefully some amazing people to share the ride with.
Maybe it’s a startup thing, maybe it’s a parenting thing, maybe it’s a mindset thing. All I know is the learning is just beginning.
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Look we know it’s just a day, but our signature argan oil comes from Morocco after all. A place overflowing with roses, it’s romantic without even trying! So perhaps it’s this, or simply lockdown boredom that has got us especially in the mood for Valentines this year.
Alone this year? Well.. there is no reason not to celebrate yourself and embrace your freedom! In fact we wanted to share some thoughts we had about the difference between being alone and being lonely. Click here to read more.
Before the day;
Make your lips kissably smooth through the cold weather with this special argan oil based lip polish. Simply mix our argan oil with some brown sugar, even a little cinnamon if you want a bit of (natural) lip plumping action! Go even more indulgent with the addition of some fragrant vanilla pod, why not you are worth it after all!
Indulge in your lover with an ‘At Home Spa’. Here are our tips;
To cover all bases we thought we’d suggest a non-conventional way to embrace your love too. So here are our ‘Playful Ways to Annoy Your Lover’; (*Disclaimer below)
We’ve tried and tested these out for you, though if you have any suggestions of your own, Team Arganic would love to hear!
And just in case the above ideas aren’t enough of a recipe for success.. Try this very simple and elegant boiled artichoke dish. It’s pretty effortless and the perfect appetiser for you to share on Valentine’s Day. Simply peel away the leaves, dunk the fleshy part into the Arganic dipping sauce and share the heart :) Did we mention that argan oil is a reported aphrodisiac? Well now you know! Find the full recipe here.
* We apologize in advance if these tips lead to the destruction of your relationship but at least you know that being alone does not necessarily mean lonely ;)
Whether it’s a gift you are looking for or… we hope we left you inspired!
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What you need;
Simply boil the artichoke whole in some slightly salted water for at least 30 minutes depending on the size of your artichoke. The good thing is you can’t really overcook these. You’ll know it’s ready when the outer leaves are easily removed and tender.
Drain off the water and sprinkle the artichoke with some sea salt if you like. Artichokes have an amazing natural flavour so you really could just eat it like this. However, you won’t want want to miss out on the special dipping sauce.
Mix the argan oil, vinegar and mustard together before seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
Display it whole on a sharing platter with a separate bowl for the dipping sauce and something to discard the used leaves into. Now simply peel off the leaves, dunk the fleshy part into the Arganic dipping sauce and eat away before sharing the heart! Now if you have not eaten artichoke like this before, you need to cut away the ‘hairy’ part of the heart before enjoying the best bit!
It's a favourite as it's bound to impress any dinner guest and it happens to be packed full of health benefits!
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There is a difference between ‘loneliness’ and ‘being alone’. Despite this, many people use these words interchangeably and let’s face it, there are social pressures telling you that you should feel lonely if you are alone. This includes people showing pity towards you simply because you are not married or are 'still single', which is more apparent in some culture than others.
]]>There is a difference between ‘loneliness’ and ‘being alone’. Despite this, many people use these words interchangeably and let’s face it, there are social pressures telling you that you should feel lonely if you are alone. This includes people showing pity towards you simply because you are not married or are 'still single', which is more apparent in some cultures than others.
What’s ironic is that many people experience much more loneliness through being with people than being alone. In particular, when you don’t feel understood by the people around you.
There are many perks to being ‘alone’. Firstly your time is your own, it can be a great opportunity to focus on learning something new and pushing for your goals whether it’s related to career, health or learning a new craft to nourish your soul. Your living space can be curated to your own style and you can fully embrace it, and there is nothing wrong with treating yourself to gifts, ones that you actually love! From regular flowers, to chocolates and fine wine, to treating yourself to the uplifting Inside Out Beauty Set from Arganic!
So what is loneliness? Perhaps it’s feeling unloved or as though that there is no one out there who understands you. In parallel, the feeling of having no purpose in life can accentuate this.
Do you have people around who love you? Of course you do but perhaps you need a reminder. Never forget you are an important and a valuable piece of the jigsaw puzzle of life and that there are likely to be many people who you inspire and whose life you add value to, even if you are not fully aware of it!
Stuck with purpose? Don’t worry and don’t force it, these things tend to fall into place as you seek them. A good and foolproof place to start is by helping others, the feeling of being needed and being able to help is valuable and rewarding, it can often lead you to forget about your own worries! Speaking of which, supporting a food bank right now is a good start. We really recommend the incredible Felix Project who are taking donations as well as volunteers to help out.
Whatever situation you are in, it’s safe to say that it will never be picture perfect but you can make the most of it and embrace every day! As with most things, it’s your outlook not the situation which matters!
Have you tried fully embracing being alone? You may surprise yourself at how much you actually love it!
]]>Fed up of dry skin, dry hair, chapped lips, central heating and being locked up at home? Enough is enough.. Let us help you quench your thirst!
Meet ‘The Everything Oil’ our signature cosmetic argan oil in a new 250ml sized pump bottle.
We’re so often touched by the heart warming feedback you share with us and in particular, how our cosmetic argan oil has changed your lives, that this next step was a bit of a no brainer.
From people telling us that their skin has never looked so youthful, how they use it through chemotherapy, to the comments about no stretch marks during pregnancy and the many uses on new born babies.
We’ve created a way to make it even easier to use in every way you can.
Head to toe, male or female, all ages, our Everything Oil is for everyone. We mean it. It’s hypoallergenic, organic, naturally non-greasy and safe during pregnancy..
It’s the kind of thing that you don’t realise you desperately need until you start using it, and then you don’t know how you’ve ever been without it. You’ll want one in every room!
We've got a special offer on for a first time try. Just type in the code ARGANICEVERYTHING for £5 off your first order of the 250ml Everything Oil.
Meanwhile, to remind you why Arganic argan oil is superior to the rest have a read here.
‘Arganic and their spin of beauty products are a real game changer. It’s rare to find a company whose ethos and focus on provenance is so transparent, focussed entirely on a deep respect for the suppliers they use and the ingredients they supply to their customers. I use their oil to cook with, as a skin moisturiser and skin healer. Their oil has got rid of my split ends and after a month of using has made my hair stronger and shinier. You do not need fancy serums when you have age-old ingredients provided for you. Seriously impressive stuff.’ - Amy Grier, Cosmopolitan
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This is a tale of teamwork, not knowing how but saying yes anyway.. and the agility of being a small company!
Last month, we had a special request from Persian restaurant Berenjak which is part of JKS. If you haven’t heard of them, they are a greatly respected restaurant group that have brought some of the most iconic restaurants to the London Food scene. The head chef Kian and team fell in love with our culinary argan oil and asked if we could provide a mini form for their swanky new kabab kits. We were excited about the idea of our oil being used to elevate a BBQ + side salad and quickly said yes. Needless to say, we didn’t want to mess them about, so the pressure was on!
The thing is, they needed delivery in a week. To give you some context, standard professional labels usually require a run time of at least 10 working days, add onto this the time required for Dapple Studio, our design agency to fit us in for the visuals.
Though before we could even get onto design, we had to finalise the packaging to know what dimensions we were working with. Environmentally friendly was a must and so the search for the glass bottles commenced. Now that in itself is not a simple task, we needed to find ones we liked that were immediately available, and in the right size.
But it gets even more niche, we were going back and forth between bottle suppliers (who were operating at a reduced pace due to COVID), the team who bottle our oil for us in the Cotswolds, and our designers. We’d find a bottle we liked but then would have to check that the nozzle dimensions worked with the filling machine’s that our bottlers had. We’d find that once we’d solved this, the bottle dimensions wouldn’t allow for good design, so it was back to the drawing board.
On top of all of this, since we didn’t have time to get a cutter made, if we were to find a printer that could do the job at the speed we required, we were limited to use set label dimensions they already had. Oh and 8 years running a business means you firmly know that throughout any process, something ALWAYS goes wrong.
Sounds impossible right? Well it seems that the universe was in our favour and we did it!
What I was reminded of through this is the power of being hands on, thinking on your feet, having flexibility and a Plan B, C, and D. Though the most important realisation was how valuable strong relations with the people you work with are. It could never have happened if it wasn’t for the flexibility, support and cooperation of Cotswold Gold who bottle for us and Dapple Studio, who on top of turning around a beautiful design so quickly introduced us to a printing legend called Kevin with a level of customer service that is so rare to find these days. It was a small job for him yet he pulled out all the stops to get us the labels we needed on time.
Last but definitely not least, our brilliant operations manager Kati led the project and through what I can only describe as telepathy, captured the elements of the process I had missed communicating. It was a mad scramble and we had a good laugh about it in the end!
Despite an early due date and some turbulence during birth, team and babies are doing well and we could not be happier!
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I was speaking to an online customer over the phone recently and the topic came up as to why Arganic’s argan oil in particular works so well. I’d like to share some important points which hopefully will prove as food for thought not just in relation to argan oil but for your natural and organic purchases in general.
Argan oil in its composition is remarkable, leading to the proven fact that it is cell rebuilding. This makes it effective in treating dry skin, repairing the hair, plumping and filling fine lines, and so on...
Unfortunately, dilution of argan oil is very common and murky supply chains means that the real stuff often doesn’t reach the end user. Before we launched, 8 years ago, I spent two years researching argan oil, on a mission to bring to market the best in the world. I often give talks educating people on how to tell if their argan oil is pure and I’ll be releasing a video on this soon.
We have a unique and exclusive partnership with the farm Sidi Yassine in the South West of Morocco. Through them we control every aspect of production and by naming our source we are the only fully traceable argan oil brand in the UK.
So our argan oil is pure, so far so good right? Well, it’s my next point that is key.
One of the most underrated things in natural beauty is freshness.
Think about it, a product that can’t rely on chemical enhancement relies solely on the potency of the natural ingredients. You wouldn’t get much benefit drinking a fruit juice pressed from stale fruit and it’s the same for oils.
Once the argan seeds leave the shell they get exposed to the elements, oxidise and lose their properties. While it’s the norm to collect readily extracted seeds from the market in sacks to produce argan oil, we do things differently and control every aspect of production.
This means the oil you purchase from our online store comes from seeds which have been pressed immediately after extraction.
So the next time you put our cosmetic argan oil on your face at night and are amazed at how your skin looks the next day, you’ll know why!
If you want to hear more about how to make better natural beauty purchases have a look at my previous article here.
Love Dana X
For many of us, our world has recently turned upside down thanks to COVID-19. Now I’m not saying it’s the same thing but as an entrepreneur you essentially choose to throw yourself into uncertainty. It’s a journey of constant challenges, a leap of faith, surprises and no guarantees. There have been many occasions in which I’ve felt that my life has turned upside down and over the years have developed coping methods. I’ve shared them below in the form of food for thought and tips, in case it’s helpful for anyone right now.
1. If you stay calm, things work out
Even if not exactly as you envision. This is something I swear by and try my best to implement. Negotiations and confrontations produce more desirable results and you make better decisions. When you step back, surrender and slow things down, often you’ll find that solutions ‘miraculously’ form or you make space for something new to replace what has been taken away from you. The key is to try to remain as present and grounded as possible.
Just before Christmas I had a great conversation with my go to meditation instructor (how glam am I!) Michael McCaffrey. One thing he said was;
‘Don’t think that the more you do, the more you will get. Stopping is powerful and it welcomes things into your life. It won’t set you back. In order to create space, breathe, have faith, don’t rush, be present. LET GO. When you are too focused on something you miss the solution, the broader angle- like trying to find keys, you look everywhere you think they are and only find them when you stop looking.’
As well as slowing things down you can help yourself stay calm and reduce anxiety by;
All the above can give you a better sense of control, which can be beneficial during challenging times.
2. Take things day by day
Firstly, don’t underestimate how much you can change in a day. If you prioritise correctly, you can improve your situation significantly just by doing one key thing. If you are having a bad day, cut yourself some slack, reach for the cookies and remember tomorrow is a new day. Just as the weather can change drastically, so can your luck!
3. Write things down
This is so powerful and really underestimated. Map out the situation, write down what the problem is, what you can do about it and what the worst-case scenario looks like. Try to make yourself feel ‘okay’ with the worst-case scenario or do your best to mitigate the potential damage now that you have fully addressed the situation. Accept the things you cannot change. From this you can also form a list of priorities and write down who may be able to help, which takes me to my next point.
4. Keep yourself around good people
Talking through the situation with another good brain can bring hope and a new outlook. Sometimes you’ll find that the other person suddenly gets dragged into it, as in they feel compelled to hold your hand through the situation, that’s a good thing for you! I also find it so important to only keep yourself around people with positive energy at this time, you may have to be ruthless.
5. Stay in motion
While I’ve said above that slowing down is generally a good idea, it’s extremely important to keep moving, one foot in front of the other, step by step. Getting back into the driving seat requires action.
6. Don’t put too much emphasis on one part of your life.
If it’s work you are worried about, make sure to step away and indulge in one of your hobbies, or spend time with loved ones. It’s valuable for your mental health. When it’s an issue within your personal life, it may make sense to throw yourself into work.
7. Music can be so powerful
An obvious one for some but it really is game changing. It could be some fun, uplifting, even silly songs that you need perhaps if only to start your day. Personally, I often find what I call ‘beautiful music’ especially nurturing during tough times when I need to get myself in the mood for creative thinking and productivity (or even to help with cooking and cleaning). If you don’t have an existing playlist I find the soundtracks to films a good place to start. E.g. I started with the soundtrack to Call Me By Your Name and through Spotify that opened doors to so many great tracks.
8. Turn to gratitude
Whenever I have a moment of feeling sorry for myself or feel like giving up, I think of the people in Iraq (where my parents come from) many of whom have been through so much loss and pain through war. Despite this they get up, dust themselves off, carry on, smile and spread warmth and kindness.
9. Don’t let yourself be a victim
Be compassionate, do your best and hold your head up high. After all, nothing in this world was promised to us.
10. Limitation is the mother of invention
Try to put a positive spin on the situation, some of the best things have come out of struggle. If your situation seems worse than many others, you could make it your power..
Finally, remember that you are stronger and more resilient than you think. As controversial as it sounds humans were designed for suffering, after all it progresses the species. It’s simply evolution. Collectively we can grow together through this experience and hopefully find greater kindness towards each other and our planet.
If you found this helpful please do share it and feel free to get in touch on dana@arganic.co.uk.
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We all want to be better citizens and have a duty to protect our diminishing natural environment. Luckily, the natural and organic beauty sector has grown year on year meaning we should be hopeful, and proud of where we have come?
I’m not so sure, and I’m urging store buyers to use their power to shape change.
]]>‘I think having land and not ruining it is the most beautiful art that anybody could want to own’ Andy Warhol
We all want to be better citizens and have a duty to protect our diminishing natural environment. Luckily, the natural and organic beauty sector has grown year on year meaning we should be hopeful, and proud of where we have come?
I’m not so sure, and I’m urging buyers to use their power to shape change.
Firstly, to help the consumer convert to natural and organic, products needs to work well. Eco product and packaging claims are well and good but rendered pointless if the item itself goes unused, meaning a good intention becomes part of the waste problem
Natural and organic products are not optimised by chemical enhancement and so rely on the potency of the natural elements themselves to be efficient. This should be fairly obvious but I’m not sure we are asking the right questions.
There is no shortage of natural beauty options out there and it’s easy to understand why box ticking, logos and certifications hold a place, but here is where we need to tread carefully.
Organic certification as an example, is a great step in helping us make informed choices, but only scratches the surface. It’s a reassurance, but should not form the basis of judgement or consideration. Rather it should solidify and back up the complete picture.
Firstly, we shouldn’t exclude brands who are organic but can’t officially make the claim, because they can’t afford certification or aren’t set up for such systems, sometimes for the best possible reasons. A natural oil such as argan for example, can be both certified organic and also deodorised, but deodorisation involves heat treatment which denatures the oil and significantly reduces the properties. As well as this a number of other factors come into play such as terroir, and even freshness of the natural product which is highly underrated.
No one would want to drink a stale fruit juice, let alone one that hasn’t been cold-pressed these days, so why don’t we think in a similar manner with natural beauty? Seeds such as those used to make argan oil start to oxidize immediately after being extracted from their shell, therefore need to be pressed swiftly. The reality is that most of what is available in the market has come from readily extracted seeds sitting in sacks for months rendering them almost dead. When it comes to highly potent botanical extracts which are effective in beauty, there are limitations to efficacy due to stabilisation methods put in place to extend shelf life.
Then there are popular yet misleading terms such as ‘cruelty-free’, often used to indicate the absence of animal exploitation but grey around the areas of fair treatment of workers and environmental damage, lending it to products that aren’t necessarily kind after all. I could go on, but you get the picture.
The solution? Firstly we have to be realistic about our expectations and change our priorities. Nature, is delicate, wild and unpredictable at times, we cannot control it, and we should not expect it to fit into the same systems that have been put into place for lab developed chemical based products, leading to unrealistic expectations on shelf life, uniformity and more. Innovation is often unsustainable in itself and the pressure for ‘new’ means many brands are bringing products to market just for the sake of it. We have to ask ourselves if this is necessary, if we really believe in the power and beauty of nature, do we need to over complicate it?
Asking very specific questions to see if brands can back up their claims is important. This means taking the time to get to know the founders and the back story, finding out who is making the products and how the components are sourced to make sure they are really offering something authentic rather than jumping on a bandwagon. Making farm visits to get a view point quite literally from the ground up is valuable, and this is an area in which we are far more ahead in the food industry. Smelling products, feeling them, and testing them against similar items all helps develop the right instinct to make better choices.
This may sound like a lot of work, but change takes time and the moment we are honest about where we stand, we know what we are actually working with. Only then can we strive to be better, slowly but surely.
If we don’t all use our influence in the right way, not only will this compromise the environment, the risk is that all of us as consumers won’t get access to the most incredible natural ingredients as the growers will be forced to give up. Which could mean giving up on the idea of natural and organic overall.
Much like in the art world where some of the best talent goes undiscovered and a lucky few make it thanks to a gallery taking a chance on them, beauty buyers hold a huge amount of power in shaping the future of natural and organic.
Copyright of Dana Elemara, if you would like her to contribute to your publication please get in touch via info@arganic.co.uk
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There are many things Team Arganic put to practice when it comes to feeling and looking our best but here are some of our current favorites.
Yoga at home with Glo
We like Glo because the website is easy to navigate and is not an eye sore! It’s cost effective and perfect if you’ve made your home your sanctuary. It’s practical as you can get a lot of benefit from even doing a 10 minute focused class, such as a good back stretch or pre-running prep. You’d be surprised at how technical some of the instructors can be which is great if you are a beginner.
Organic Burst Baobab and Maca
While I’m not a fan of supplements generally, I believe in the benefits of maca and baobab which are naturally not very processed in powder form. Baobab in particular is great for giving you a burst of energy and dose of Vitamin C. It tastes a bit like orange and I love it simply in warm water, otherwise I add it to my fruit salads or smoothies. Maca with its more caramel like tone works better added to a smoothie, in cereal or even in your coffee! I met the founders of Organic Burst a few years ago and was impressed with their sourcing and production methods.
Facial Massage
I’ve been swearing by this for a while. It’s a natural way to define your cheekbones, tighten, plump and tone your skin. After all, moving your face helps the natural production of collagen and gets the blood flowing. It’s better done with an oil and jusssst in case you didn’t know already we have the perfect thing right here! My friend Nadira has recently come up with a brilliant book to help beginners which you can purchase here. It’s a bit to swallow initially but then becomes so instinctive. There are few things more empowering than using your own hands to improve your skin and define your face!
Fasting
Kati, our operations manager, has recently started fasting for 15 hours each day, meaning she stops eating at 6pm. The main thing she has really noticed is increased energy levels and better sleep. I’ve not yet tried this myself but am planning to put it into practice very soon, after all I always feel better when I’ve had an early dinner.
Hibiscus Infusion
This reminds me of my childhood. Dried hibiscus flowers are widely available. Simply steep in hot water to bring out the rich pomegranate like flavour, add your sweetener of choice (I use honey) then top up with hot or cold water. As Kati says, hot hibiscus infusion carries the nostalgia of hot Ribena! I also love it really chilled, topped with fresh mint leaves and lemon wedges. Sometimes I make a very concentrated infusion, leave it in the fridge and top up with more water as desired, that way you get at least a week’s worth. Hibiscus boasts multiple health benefits, in particular it’s very high in antioxidants. You will likely get cravings for it once you start, the cravings being for the ‘life giving’ antioxidants, which the body can’t get enough of.
I hope you found this inspiring.
If you have any health tips you’d like to share, please let us know and we’ll put them to the test!
Love Dana X
*Disclaimer- I am human and therefore I am guilty of lacking consistency with the above practices, but when I do get back into them the results show!
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Here are our top 10 ways to enjoy;
1. Simple and Delicious. Don’t over complicate things. Argan oil is a delicate flavour and extremely precious, so don’t let it get lost in a sea of overwhelming flavours. Garnishing a salad, risotto or pasta with our oil is enough to transform a dish.
2. Healthy Grains. Try using it with slow-releasing carbohydrates. These are incredibly healthy and have an earthy flavour, complementing the argan oil perfectly.
3. Veggies. Use it on simple one-vegetable dishes, like grilled aubergine, green beans, charred mushrooms, sweet potato and pumpkin. Another favourite is with grilled kohlrabi and artichoke.
4. Chargrill. Chargrilling or dry frying veggies gives them a beautiful colour and smoky taste. Drizzling the oil on top works a dream.
5. Pulses, Soups and Dips. Use argan oil as a final garnish to houmous, or other chickpea and bean dishes.
6. Nuts and Seeds. Nuts and Seeds are delicious and a great compliment to the natural nuttiness in the argan oil. Use them in salads, dips, pasta. (Don't grind the nut too fine otherwise the oil in the nut can overpower the flavour). I find argan oil with walnut an especially interesting combination.
7. Rustic and Easy. Why not just grab a rustic piece of bread and dunk it in argan oil! This way you can truly enjoy its natural fragrance.
8. Porridge. You will be surprised at how much a drizzle of argan oil can transform your breakfast. Turn the humble porridge into an exciting morning treat. Why not throw in some nuts, dates and figs as well.
9. Desserts. There is no reason to stick to only savoury dishes. Experiment with its sweetness. It can add a new dimension to fruit. Also with chocolate dishes as well as drizzled over ice creams.
10. Venture to the Mayo. If you want to get a bit more adventurous you can try making argan oil mayonnaise as a side for sweet potato chips.
By all means experiment, just keep the flavour profile simple. The possibilities are endless.
Written for us by our friend Ilyas Kassam, head chef of The Thinkers Balcony philosophy inspired dinners.
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"It takes hard work, a lot of hard work but if you want to achieve it, it's there, you can just grab it.
Ottolenghi are an institution, and changed the way we eat vegetables in the UK.
Not only did they start at a time arguably much harder to launch a restaurant but, 17 years on, they have proven staying power and owe part of this success to karma.
Normally shy and not one to step into the limelight, (in his own words I 'nagged and nagged' him to do this interview) it is our absolute delight to share this rare and intimate discussion with co-founder and head-chef of Ottolenghi, Sami Tamimi.
"Yotam likes to come to my house, open the cupboards and admire how neat, tidy and colour coordinated everything is.
Seemingly an overnight success, we unravel how Ottolenghi came about, how success grows through love, not greed, why Sami doesn’t envy Yotam and how a positive attitude helps in work and life.
"When I got to be a head chef, I said to myself, I want to be nice to people- I don't want to be throwing pots and pans at them.
So go on, grab some dates, plonk some cardamom pods into a cup of English Breakfast tea, relax and enjoy!
(P.S. Apologies for the odd bird squawking in the background, we were on a roof and a very beautiful rooftop – that of Second Home where we are proudly based.)
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Let’s start with the definition of single origin;
A single origin ingredient is sourced from a single known geographical region or farm.
You’ll often see this term used with coffee, wine, chocolate, tea, and of course oils. In general it’s a reassuring sign, as long as the origin of the ingredient is named on the packaging, for starters it means the people selling you this product actually know where it comes from and care about what they are selling! Surprisingly with the amount of middle-men and distributors around, a lot of brand owners don’t know much about their product at all, and much of what you are paying for goes towards paying these middle-men, and not towards the quality of the item.
Using argan oil as an example, almost all the argan oil you’ll find is of mixed origin. When you are dealing with large companies or big distributors of argan oil, which sadly are often the ones selling to small ‘conveniently ignorant’ but well-branded companies you want to love, it’s often just about making money. This means selling as much as possible with no qualms about ethical compromise. Given the artisan nature of argan oil, one farm can only produce so much and so the oil is often collected from many sources and mixed into a big pot. This means more scope for contamination (and rancid oil!) and other hygiene implications. It also means you don’t get as good a flavour as you are missing out on things such as terroir and everything turns a bit ‘murky’. Health benefits and beautifying properties are also compromised as with mixed expiry dates and processing methods, freshness is reduced. Other reasons people mix sources of ingredients, often from many different countries, is to save costs because by mixing a good quality source with a poor quality source the end result is not 'that bad’.
At Arganic we name our partner farm (Sidi Yassine) on our packaging. We are also the only fully traceable argan oil brand in the UK, something we are very proud of.
Peanut butter is very trendy at the moment, with lots of niche brands dominating the market, but what disappoints me is that very few state what country, let alone region or farm their peanuts come from. In fact the only peanut butter brand that I’ve seen name the source of their peanuts is Mani Life. Why is it not policy to name at least the country the main ingredient in your item is from?
To conclude, single origin is not an assurance of high quality but it’s a good sign. As with everything, the more details a company can provide the better and the more questions we ask as consumers the more we can put pressure on brands to be more transparent.
If you are interested to hear more of my views as well as following Arganic you can follow me on Instagram here.
]]>It's much more exciting than regular mashed potato, even more so laced with the buttery nutty flavour of Arganic. Any combination of root veg will do (think carrots, parsnips, celeriac, sweet potatoes) but I always insist on including some regular potato to add some sturdiness to the texture and make sure it's not too sweet.
Simply boil your root veg until tender, mash, season with a good amount of salt and pepper, and finish with a good glug of our argan oil. If you are feeling lazy, as I sometimes am, you can keep it rough and ready and even leave the skin on your vegetables. This can be enjoyed in many ways, a personal favourite is with some fish and roast fennel or sautéed leeks. If you are vegetarian it works well with mushrooms and steamed greens.
Next up on comfort food is porridge. I'm a huge fan of this humble, economical, and filling dish and if you aren't I hope I can convert you. It starts with finding the right oats. My favourite are the ‘Daily Oats’ from Rude Health as they seem to really do it with their flavour and texture (the details make a difference). I also insist on adding a pinch of salt. Argan oil and porridge is a match made in heaven, not only does it give the porridge a wonderful texture, it means you are getting the blood sugar levelling properties first thing in the morning. You add the argan oil into your oats at the end of cooking and can keep it simple with some nuts, honey or dried fruit, though if you want to go all out, here is a divine recipe for the ultimate porridge bowl.
Despite the weather making me feel lazy, work is as busy as ever this time of year and it’s important to eat well. This forces me to think about convenience. One of my go to easy breakfasts are boiled, free range eggs (I swear by Clarence Court which you can get from Ocado where you will also find Arganic) cut in half and finished with a drizzle of argan oil and a pinch of cumin or paprika. I have this alongside a cracker, a cup of green tea and half a grapefruit.
Finally, I was brought up with the concept that a meal is not a meal without a salad no matter what the weather, and with the right dressing a salad can become the thing you crave the most.
To stick to what's local and in season I've been making the following; celery sliced as thinly as possible mixed with grated raw beetroot and carrots. You want to get hold of organic vegetables if possible, as the flavour will be much more pronounced. Finish with a handful of roughly chopped walnuts, and a dressing made from 2 parts argan oil to 1 part apple cider vinegar, some salt and pepper. It is delicious and highly nutritious and I urge you to sneak it alongside all your dishes.
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Spiced Blackberry, Apple & Almond Argan Oil Porridge
Serves 2
100g porridge oats
½ tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground cardamom
Honey, to taste
250g blackberries
1 apple, thinly sliced or julienned
Almond butter
Handful of pistachios
Arganic argan oil, to serve
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Recently I found myself exchanging beauty tips with the inspiring Serena Guen of travel and culture magazine Suitcase. She specifically asked me about hair, an area I get asked about a lot and so I decided to share my top tips for healthier and more lustrous hair. As with most things of substance in life, some commitment is required but I promise that the results will make it worth it.
To conclude; as with most things, a bit of a compromise goes far. For example, rather than saying to yourself you'll never use appliances again, change it up and have a few regular breaks in between uses to then enjoy the end result when you do use them. It's a shame to 'overindulge' and get to the point where the hair is very damaged and the consequences are close to irreversible. I don't believe in quick fixes, good simple habits combined with an initial investment of time and patience is the way to go, and it's empowering!
]]>Time is something important to Arganic. So important that we created a symbol for it, which makes up one of the 'elements' on our packaging. Not only do we feel that in a world of convenience, the best things take time, we also are mindful that if someone chooses to come to an event we host, it had better be worthy of their time!
Last Monday we 'officially' celebrated the culinary edit of our recent rebrand. It was great to share something we were proud of and we felt it was a good time to bring together some of the great people who have inspired us and helped us along the way.
The theme was a Middle Eastern Summer Night's Dream and we were lucky enough to host it on the stunning new rooftop of Second Home. We had Berber & Q, one of our founder's favourite restaurants (along with their sister restaurant Shawarma Bar) treating everyone to some of their infamous hummus bowls. Drinks were Persian inspired made by the very well travelled Michael Isted, founder of The Herball and a trained phytotherapist, a man on a mission to promote and celebrate the many ways in which we can integrate plants and plant preparations to invigorate and enrich our lives. To top it all off we had Frances Quinn, a previous Great British Bake Off winner, delighting everyone with a feasting table that included the most delicious Arabian spiced tiffin, laced with orange zest and blossom and filled with crunchy almonds, walnuts and pistachios.
We loved the process, from creating our own bunting to shopping for the flowers and decorations. Speaking of which we had our multi talented friend Safia (who is a brilliant Middle Eastern baker & co founder of Cook & Baker) step in last minute to arrange our flowers and help us with the styling. It really did feel like a dream. We'll let the photos do the rest of the talking.
* Photographs taken by Stefan Jakubowksi, Frances Quinn, Abigail Charlesworth, Safia Shakarchi & Kat Wood *
]]>As a British Iraqi, I grew up with aromatic, colourful food made from scratch. What I love about Syrian and Middle Eastern flavours is that you can very easily and quickly turn something ordinary into something sultry, with layers of depth.
I always make fragrant granolas like this and though it's usually impromptu, I often end up using the ingredients described here as many are staple’s in the Arabic kitchen.
The orange zest, fennel seeds and cardamom really give this granola an edge. Using flavoursome medjool over regular dates in this otherwise economical recipe, is worthwhile, and they are widely available.
Preheat oven to 160 oC, and line a baking tray with greaseproof paper.
In a large bowl, add all the dry ingredients including the orange zest but not the dates, and mix well, then stir in the oil and honey so that everything is coated. Spread the mixture onto the lined baking tray so that you get a thin layer. Bake for 25 mins, stirring the mixture halfway through. Pit and chop the dates and add into the mixture at the end, while it’s still warm out of the oven. Leave to cool then store in an airtight container. I recommend enjoying this with full fat yoghurt drizzled with our argan oil, and honey or date syrup, with a side of refreshing fruit.
As an Iraqi hearing stories first hand of people left helpless by war, the crisis in Syria is all too familiar and breaks my heart. Syria is known to have some of the best cuisine in the Middle East and #BakeForSyria is a brilliant initiative that at the very least shows that so many of us care. You'll find this recipe and many others in the Bake for Syria Cookbook now available on Amazon and in Waterstones.
]]>Place the dried chickpeas into a large mixing bowl and cover with water. Leave to soak overnight for at least 12 hours.
The next day, drain the chickpeas and place into a saucepan. Cover with double the amount of water and bring to the boil before taking down to a simmer and cooking for about an hour until the chickpeas are soft. Rinse, drain and pat dry.
Preheat the oven to 170C. Place the chickpeas into a mixing bowl with the spices and argan oil. Toss well, making sure the chickpeas are evenly coated.
Transfer the chickpeas to a small tray and place in the oven for 30 minutes, or until the chickpeas are golden and crunchy. Remove and set aside to cool.
Serve on their own as a healthy snack, or use to top your dips, soups and salads!
Using this twice a week is a simple ritual to make you feel brand new, and you are worth the effort, not that it’s particularly time consuming. The best bit is that it smells like brownie batter!
Use in the shower after cleansing by scooping into your hands and massaging into your skin in circular motions. Gently rinse off all the residue and you are good to go!