How Olives are Cultivated to Make Olive Oil
Posted by italiandelionline on October 18th, 2021
Today, however, the world recognizes it as the pinnacle of all oils given its immense nutritional benefits.
Cultivation of olives
Tunisia has become the second-largest producer of olive oil in the world, passing Spain. Although the production of organic olive oil has skyrocketed fourfold in the last years, Tunisia holds on to its traditional method of oil production. The steps are simple and involve laborers, majorly women, to get the work done. Large nets are spread around the base of the trees. Men and women, called the pickers, climb up the ladder to gather the olives from the trees and drop the fruits on the net. The leaves from the olives are removed by juggling them over the net which is then sent to the mill. The traditional crush-and-press method is followed to make organic olive oil. The fruit paste is spread onto the fiber mats which undergo hydraulic press for a couple of hours. The olive-water mixture is collected in tanks and the oil is separated by a natural process. They are then bottled accordingly and marketed.
There are four different types of olive oil or Marinated Artichoke Hearts available for consumption. They are:
- Pure (regular) olive oil: they are refined and filtered to neutralize the strong acid content. This is the lowest quality olive oil available as it involves chemical refinement and is usually the least expensive.
- Virgin olive oil: as the name suggests, it does not involve any chemical additives and therefore it is not refined oil. However, its acidic content is less than 2% and thus tastes better than the previously mentioned regular olive oil. It simply means that the oil has been less manipulated while processing.
- Extra virgin: This is the highest quality olive oil which has the perfect balance of flavor, aroma, and acidic content. Given its delicate nature, it is perfect for marinades, salad dressings, and dipping bread.
- Cold-pressed: when the Cold Pressed Olive Oil is made with a second pressing, which takes away the delicate flavors. Although it has an unregulated label description, it is made from olive paste which is gently warmed at room temperature and doesn\'t lose taste.
Health benefits of organic olive oil
- Digestive benefits: Olive oil has been known to be particularly beneficial for those who suffer from stomach ulcers and similar gastrointestinal disorders.
- High in monounsaturated fat: the balanced amount of olive oil in a regular diet can help to produce what is nicknamed as the \"good\" fat for the body which helps to function properly.
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- Rich source of Vitamin E: Vitamin E is a very powerful antioxidant that helps to prevent the harm caused by free radicals on the body.