Olive Oil - Liquid Gold of the Mediterranean

Olive oil
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Olive oil is an oil derived from the fruit of the olive tree, which originated in the Mediterranean area. It is produced by pressing olives and has a very high content of monounsaturated fats.

Olive oil was traditionally produced by beating the trees with sticks to knock the olives off and crushing them in stone or wooden mortars or beam presses. Nowadays, olives are ground to tiny bits, obtaining a paste that is mixed with water and processed by centrifugation, separating the oil from the pomace (the other remaining substances).

Edible commercial olive oil can be divided into several categories according to its chemical characteristics and the production method: Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Virgin Olive Oil, and Olive Oil. The first two, virgin olive oils, are obtained only by physical extraction from the fruits. Non virgin olive oil is obtained by the chemical refining of a low-quality non-edible grade of virgin olive oil called "lampante" olive oil.

A second type of oil can be extracted from the remaining pomace. This is called Olive Pomace Oil and it is obtained, like all the other food oils, by treatment with a chemical solvent, generally hexane, and subsequent chemical refining.

Of all the categories, Extra Virgin Olive Oil presents the highest organoleptic, nutritional, and health qualities, as well as the most "flowery" taste.

Today olive oil is mainly used in cooking and also in cosmetics and soaps, but it has been used for medicines and as a fuel for oil lamps.

The oil was a central product of the Minoan civilization, where it is thought to have represented wealth. The Minoans put the pulp into settling tanks and, when the oil rose to the top, drained the water from the bottom.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Olive Oil".

Olive Oil
	Olive Oil Extra Virgin Cert. Organic One Gallon: K This is pure, certified organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil. It can be used for cooking or as a carrier oil for essential oils. Vegetable oils make an excellent base in which to dilute essential oils for body care products. They are sometimes referred to as fixed oils because they are not as volatile (easy to evaporate) as essential oils. Extra Virgin Olive oil contains 80% monounsaturated fatty acids which help reduce cholesterol levels. Extra virgin olive oil is full of vitamin E (a powerful anti-oxidant) which has been shown to reduce gastric acidity. The emollient effect of extra virgin olive oil protects against ulcers, it aids the passage of food through the intestines, and it reduces the risk of gallstones. Extra virgin olive oil beautifies skin, hair and nails. It is the ancient world's traditional skin softener and basic massage oil.
	Masserie Trio Oil/Vinegar Set Displayed on a chrome stand with a whimsical handle, this trio of extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegar makes a lovely hostess gift. The two distinct oils hail from the sunny shores of Apulia, Italy's boot. The Flavorful oil is made from ripe Corat
	Olive Oil And Olives Gift Set This beautifully packaged gift box contains: a bottle of unfiltered, richly green, extra-virgin olive oil; a jar of naturally cured cracked green olives packed with pieces of lemon peel; and a jar of naturally cured kalamata olives. Ideal for a hostess or
	Extra Virgin Olive Oil These fine Italian extra-virgin olive oil is produced under strict regulation, to yield an oil deeply green in color, peppery, and exceptionally fruity. Use to dress salads, pastas, and vegetables of all types. Try with a salad of shaved fennel, clementin
	Extra Virgin Olive Oil Extra-virgin is the highest grade of olive oil, resulting from the first cold pressing of the olives. This deep green-gold oil possesses an intense flavor and fragrance, perfect for dipping bread or tossing with pasta, garlic, and parmesan for a simple me
	Tangerine Olive Oil A rare cold-pressed olive oil, flavored with tangerine. A specialty of the Abruzzo region of Italy, it's made by crushing ripe tangerines together with hand-picked olives in a traditional stone mill, for a delicate extra-virgin oil with a citrus soul.
	Porcini Mushroom Oil This extra-virgin olive oil is greenish in color, silky in flavor, and infused with porcini mushrooms, giving it an intense, earthy finish. Each bottle contains a few small pieces of dried porcini mushrooms. Drizzle porcini oil sparingly over pasta, or ri
	Extra Virgin Olive Oil Rich olive color and aroma, this oil is from the first cold pressing of Italian olives. Its mellow fruity flavor makes it excellent for salad dressings, marinades, or to drizzle on grilled vegetables.
	Extra-Virgin Olive Oil This extra-virgin olive oil from Ugento, Italy, in the Puglia region, is packaged in a handsome handpainted pottery carafe, protecting the oil inside from heat and light. Cold-pressed from the finest olives, this oil is aromatic and fruity, best suited fo
	White Truffle Oil This intensely fragrant olive oil is infused with the earthy, slightly garlicky, indescribable flavor of white truffles, a specialty of Alba, Italy. White truffles are one of the rarest and most expensive of foods. They must be found by specially trained