A fruit with more fat than any other — and a green, velvety oil that deeply nourishes.

What is avocado oil?

The avocado (Persea gratissima, or Persea americana) is the fruit of an evergreen tree of the laurel family. Unlike most plant oils, which come from seeds, avocado oil is pressed from the flesh of the fruit. It is rich in oleic acid (omega-9), phytosterols, lecithin, vitamins A, D and E, and carotenoids such as lutein, which give it its green colour.

What are the benefits of avocado oil?

Avocado oil is one of the most nourishing plant oils. Applied topically it:

• Nourishes and softens dry skin
• Supports the skin’s protective barrier with phytosterols
• Offers vitamin E and carotenoids with antioxidant activity
• Suits dry, mature and dehydrated skin
• Leaves the skin supple and velvety

“Poor man’s butter”

The Aztecs called it ahuacatl, which the Spanish conquerors turned into aguacate — the origin of the word avocado. It has been a staple food in Central America for around nine thousand years, and the first European travellers called it “poor man’s butter” because its flesh was spread on bread.

Where does it come from?

The avocado originates in southern Mexico and Central America. Today Mexico produces about a third of the world’s crop, followed by Colombia, Peru and Kenya. In Greece it is grown mainly in Crete, around Chania, where it thrives in the mild climate.