Roots in Morocco
Extra virgin olive oil is having a moment, and it is my mission for Moroccan olive oil to claim its rightful seat at the table — the gourmet, healthy, Mediterranean table.
Marhaba to Azhara
I'm Miriam, founder of Azhara Grove.
I created Azhara to celebrate Morocco's rich culinary heritage and to bring an exceptional extra virgin olive oil to the UK's table.
I am an extra virgin olive oil sommelier, having trained at the Escuela Superior del Aceite de Oliva in Valencia. I have a deep understanding of what defines true quality - from harvest to pressing to taste.
While the great olive oil producing nations of Europe - Italy, Greece and Spain - are widely recognised, Morocco remains lesser known internationally. Yet it is a significant producer, with its own distinctive varieties, most notably the Picholine Marocaine.
Azhara Grove brings this heritage to life through an organic, early-harvest extra virgin oil of exceptional quality.
The place that shaped me
My father, Hafid, is Moroccan, having grown up in Meknes, a central town located between the better known ones of Fes and Rabat.
My childhood was shaped by time spent visiting family in Casablanca and holidaying in Marrakech.
I have always been captivated by Morocco's sensory intensity — the aroma of herbs and spices piled high in market stalls, the chaotic traffic made up of motorbikes, cars and the occasional donkey, and the labyrinth medinas and souks selling ornate handicraft, colourful caftans and beautiful hand-woven rugs.
The foundation of flavour
Food sits at the heart of Moroccan life. This is not a culture of hurried meals. Food is savoured and meals are sacred time shared with family.
Meat is slowly stewed in tagines and vegetables are transformed into deeply flavoured salads.
One of Moroccan cuisine's signature features is the delicate balance between savoury and sweet flavours in its dishes — from beef and prune tagine, to pastilla, a crisp filo pastry pie filled with chicken or pigeon but topped with cinnamon and sugar.
We're just getting started, but in time we'll bring you some Moroccan recipes with a twist.
Extra virgin olive oil is fundamental in Moroccan cuisine. As one of the largest producers of olive oil in the world, olive oil is not an embellishment, but a foundational element to the cuisine.
Where we're going next
One of our core values at Azhara Grove is a celebration of cultural fusion, using ingredients in innovative and creative ways.
In an increasingly fragile and uncertain world, I am drawn to the idea that, like the olive tree, humanity has an extraordinary capacity to endure and flourish.