Men have been using olive oil for millennia, and you can be certain that they weren’t using it only as a salad dressing. In fact, olive oil was used primarily for various non-culinary purposes, including as fuel in oil lamps, as medicines, as an ingredient in soap-making, and even as a component of religious rituals.
Do you ever wonder how extra virgin olive oil that’s been in your pantry for over a year retains its freshness? Or have you ever wondered if you’re storing your bottle of EVOO in the right place? Whether you’re an olive juice connoisseur or simply someone who appreciates cooking and brightening foods’ flavors with EVOO, we’re here to answer your pressing questions about the world’s healthiest oil.
Olive oil labels can be confusing, so choosing the right one can be difficult. While it’s easy to distinguish extra virgin from refined olive oil, many varieties have characteristics that overlap.
You probably already know that extra virgin olive oil is a high-quality oil, but with cheaper, ‘pure’ and ‘refined’ varieties available, why should you spend more on premium-priced EVOO? Since deciding which oil is best for your needs can be confusing, here’s a brief guide on olive oil varieties and how each type is best used.
Did you know that olive oil is essentially fruit juice? That’s right. This flavorful ingredient that’s a staple in some of your favorite savory dishes has more in common with oranges than with broccoli.
Other than this fun bit of trivia, there’s plenty of misinformation that has influenced the consumption of this super food.
Everyone considers fruits and vegetables healthy because they can be eaten raw with all their nutrients intact. Certain foods, however, require some preservatives to extend shelf life and decrease costs. The same principle applies to producing olive oil.
The health benefits of olive oil are numerous and well known, as various studies have shown. They include reducing the likelihood of occurrence of certain types of cancer, balancing cholesterol levels, and preventing heart diseases. In other words, it’s a key ingredient in heart health and hearty meals.
The next time you’re in the supermarket picking up groceries, stop and ask yourself: Is the $25 bottle of extra virgin olive oil really worth it?
There’s almost certainly a bottle for less than half that price claiming to contain an oily elixir of the same quality on one of the lower shelves, so why opt for top-shelf quality?
Well, if you care about the health benefits, the flavor, or the freshness of REAL extra virgin olive oil, a few extra bucks are clearly worth it.
Olive oil should not be chosen with the same criteria as wine. Whereas wine is often revered for its age, olive oil is best when it is as fresh as possible.
Our olives are harvested in late fall and rushed to the mill for pressing. It is very important that the olives not wait to be pressed as this can drastically reduce the quality of the oil they produce.
By 310 AD wheat was milled at Sowerby Bridge, in what is now England, to supply the Roman Garrison at Slack at a distance of 3 1/2 leagues. The strategic location of Slack at the Northernmost point of the Calder River Basin and the crossing of the Roman Watling Street Road at Sowerby-Bridge located the village at the main crossroad of Central Britannia.
So, what goals should we set for this olive oil? Taste is so subjective from person to person, and the general public is accustomed to mild, tasteless and inexpensive olive oil. But health benefits can be scientifically evaluated, measured and enhanced.