Super pack à la rose - ARGANANE

Valley of Roses is the tourist nickname of the Oued Dadès valley located in the South-East of Morocco, at the foot of the High Atlas between El Kelaa des M'Gouna and Boulmane du Dadès. Its entrance to Imassine is marked by the presence of a chaos of large rounded rock blocks, some of which seem balanced on the ground. It is a long series of small villages and traditional mud houses, whose wealth is hidden in gardens invisible from the road. Its economy is essentially based on agriculture (cereals, barley, corn, potatoes).

It owes its name to the presence of rose bush hedges used to keep goats away from cultivated fields. Roses are traditionally used for the production of rose water. The rose bushes, whose scent spreads everywhere in May, a few days before the harvest, give a particular tone to this valley.

The Damask rose, Rosa Damascena, which resists cold and drought, is said to have been introduced by pilgrims returning from Mecca in the 10th century. It is cultivated for local consumption, in the form of rose water, as well as for export and the perfume industry, in the form of rose essence and concrete. Annually three to four thousand tonnes[ref. necessary] roses are harvested, during a week which ends with the very touristy moussem des Roses.

Rose water is made on site, but cosmetics and soaps are now made in factories in Marrakech or Casablanca. Distillation is carried out in two factories in the region, that of Kelaâ, installed in an old kasbah.

Roses are also exported for the perfume industry. Finally, traditionally producer families use it for perfume, cooking, and body care.

Contenu soumis à la licence CC-BY-SA 4.0. Source : Article Vallée des roses (Maroc) de Wikipédia en français (auteurs)