(4 Mar 2020) LEAD IN: Morocco's Hammams are an ancient tradition preserved from one generation to another.
The relaxing ritual uses natural products, all made in Morocco.
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In this small room, the temperature can reach up to 50°C.
Hot steam and high humidity are basics of a Hammam ritual, coveted by Moroccans for its relaxation and cleansing benefits.
"The Hammam has been part of the Moroccan tradition for centuries, we go there every week with the family, we go there on special occasions, for example for weddings, before circumcision, so it is really something very deeply embedded in the habits of Moroccans," says Camelia Belkamel, a guest at a Hammam in Marrakech.
Hammams started as a tradition of public bathing in the Middle East and North Africa.
The most ancient Hammams were found in Morocco as early as the late 8th century.
Today, the country also boasts modern Hammams, mostly private.
A Hammam experience is known for its skin-softening and exfoliating results, using natural products.
The black soap is known as the Hammam star, it is usually applied on the skin for about 15 minutes, preparing the skin for exfoliation.
"The essential element in the black soap is water, the water must be pure, clean, without any bacteria and softened," says Jalil Belkamel, owner of Nectarome, a brand for organic cosmetics.
Nectarome produces black soap as well as the Rhassoul clay, another Hammman product.
"No clay in the world can be called Rhassoul except this clay which has very specific characteristics in its mineralogical composition but also in its structure, its colour , etc. Therefore, Rhassoul has been used for a very long time since the 12th century," adds Belkamel.
The Rhassoul makes foam and was also traditionally used by women as a shampoo, says Belkamel.
Aromatic and medicinal plants or even essential oils are a big part of the composition of Moroccan Hammam products.
The first bio-aromatic garden in Morocco, created in 1997 in the Ourika Valley.
More than fifty species of plants are cultivated in it and they are used in Hammam products.
The products are sold in shops, spa venues and markets in Morocco.
The price of 200 grams of black soap can cost between $1 to $10 depending on its quality and purity.
"I, like all Moroccan women, always buy these products like black soap, henna and raw Corne-Rose, this is because we go to the Hammam every week, this is why it is necessary to buy these products, especially the black soap, because it cleanses and moisturizes the skin, it has good benefits for the skin," says Saliha Bekhtaoui, a resident of Rabat.
The demand for the products is still high says local sellers, customers are not just Moroccans but also Africans and Arabs.
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