EleaEvia

What are the origins of the olive tree?

 

According to the ancient Greek tradition, the origin of the olive tree is Athens while the first olive tree was planted by the goddess Athena, at the Acropolis. As the ancient myth reminds us, in the battle among the Gods - that took place at the sacred rock of the Acropolis in order to appoint the patron of Athens - goddess Athena emerged victorious by donating to the Athenians the "world's first olive tree", which immerged from a rock at the point where she hit her spear. This tree was useful for food, heating, lighting, health and beauty of the Athenians, and outmatched the offerings of the other Gods. So the city was named after the goddess, Athens. Hence, the olive tree was considered as a "sacred tree" and was appointed under the protection of the goddess Athena. The "sacred olive trees" around ancient Athens were protected with surrounding barriers. Woe to anyone who dared damaging them, since the punishment was ostracism or even death.

Nevertheless, according to some scholars, the olive tree originates from Asia Minor and was spread from Iran, Syria and Palestine to the rest of the Mediterranean 6,000 years ago or so. It is one of the oldest cultivated trees in the world, which existed even before the invention of writing. It was cultivated in Crete 3,000 years ago and perhaps it was one of the primary sources of wealth for the Minoan civilization. The Phoenicians spread the olive tree growing to the Mediterranean coasts of Africa and southern Europe. Also, olive fruits have been found in Egyptian tombs dating back to 2,000 BC. The olive tree cultivation was spread to the Greeks and later the Romans. In ancient Greece, the athletes rubbed their bodies with oil and the olive branch was given as a prize to the winners. A symbolic custom that was initiated during the first Olympic Games in Olympia in 776 BC and lasted until the last ancient Olympics, promoting truce and peace among people and nations.

 

Which are the main categories of olive oil?

 

Organic olive oil

The organic olive oil is extracted from groves which are cultivated in compliance to the strict rules that define the organic crops. The use of fertilizers, sprays and/or any kind of treatment during the pressing of the olives, the preservation and the bottling of the olive oil, is strictly prohibited. The labeling of all organic products must necessarily bear the approval and certification number as given by accredited inspection and certification authorities.

 

Cold pressed olive oil, unheated or xeric

This particular olive oil type is being extracted by crushing the olives in the oil mill without allowing heating the olive oil. It is well known that the heating or overheating of goods, generally reduces their nutritional quality by "burning" their vitamins capacity, minerals and other valuable nutrients.

 

Green olive oil

Green olive oil is the extra virgin olive oil produced from the unripe fruits of olive tree, which are picked exclusively by hand. It is characteristic by its bright green color, its bitter taste and the high nutritional value. Its limited production and lifetime of no more than 9 months, makes it a rare gastronomic treasure.

 

Extra virgin olive oil

Its acidity does not exceed 0.8%. It has a strong, fruity flavor, aroma of 

freshly cut olive fruits and a dark green shade.

 

Virgin olive oilIt is the natural olive oil whose acidity ranges up to 2%.

 

Olive oil

It is a blend of virgin and refined olive oil.

 

 

What is acidity?

 

Acidity represents the percentage of free fatty acids and it is one of the main indicators for the evaluation and ranking of olive oil. It is usually expressed as a percentage, representing the percentage of free fatty acids. As main acidifying agents are considered to be the diseases that can affect the seed, the long term storage of the fruit prior to pressing, the stacking of the fruit in large heaps, its advanced maturation etc. Oils with high acidity have altered taste, shorter life and are less nutritious.

 

 

What causes the difference in flavor and aroma of olive oil per region?

 

The taste, aroma and, sometimes, the color of the olive oil depends on the harvesting, extraction and storage conditions, as well as factors such as the soil quality and the climatic conditions. The oil of rocky soils, as opposed to the liquid and clay ones, is richer in aroma and flavor and bears a golden color. Also, the oil’s organoleptic characteristics are affected by the altitude of the grove, the sunshine exposure and very often by the orientation of the trees.

 

 

What is the life duration and storage conditions of the olive oil?

 

According to a popular Greek saying, “bring me last year’s wine and this year’s oil”. Olive oil contains no preservatives and its lifetime ranges from 12 to 18 months, depending on the conditions of conservation. Trade packages must not exceed 5 liters so that the oil is consumed in a relatively short period of time, to avoid long stays in contact with oxygen after the first opening. Ideal packages are the stainless steel containers or dark glass bottles, to prevent light exposure. Also, the containers must be stored in dark, dry places. Olive oil is a highly sensitive product that can easily be altered (rancid) due to oxidation by light, oxygen or due to exposure to high temperature. Therefore, an ideal cabin for its maintenance is the domestic refrigerator. The Peroxide and R indexes can indicate the oxidation level of the oil during its storage.

 

 

Is there a test?

 

If the olive oil becomes fully stabilized during its storage in the refrigerator, it means it is pure. The olive which has undergone no processing, thickens when exposed/stored to low temperatures and forms whites coagulate suspensions. What is the proper use of olive oil in our daily diet?In order to preserve the maximum of olive oil’s nutritional value, as well as to avoid creating toxic (carcinogenic) peroxides, it is usually advised to consume it raw. This means that we can use in salads and at the end of cooking (but not when it is too hot to eat). It is important to know that all oil above 40°C loose its nutritional value and its heating has only negative consequences. However, these effects apply less to olive oils as compared to seed oils.

 

 

What is the relationship of the oil's health?

 

The beneficial characteristics of olive oil are numerous, although its nutritional value is less than that of the whole fruit. However, the isolation of the oily part of the fruit and particularly the removal of its fibers, makes cold pressed olive oil easier to digest than the fruit itself. It is encouraging that the global scientific community is increasingly recognizing olive oil’s high nutritional value, just like Hippocrates had done thousands of years ago. Olive oil is necessary for the absorption of fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. The unsaturated fatty acids it contains, not only they are excellent sources of energy but also precious building materials of our body cells. They are also essential for the body defense, the hormonal and particularly the genital tract and of course they contribute to heart health. Because of antioxidant micronutrients (polyphenols) olive oil helps prevent cancer. It also helps slowing the aging process due to its content of vitamin E (a natural antioxidant), balancing the metabolism and contributes to the proper growth of bones and brain structure in early childhood.

 

 

Are there any beauty care benefits?

 

The oil can be used in hair and skin.To give your hair proper moisture and shine, preventing frizz and dry skin at the same time, just treat across the length of your hair with olive oil and wrap them in a warm towel for 30 minutes. Then shower and rinse your hair with plenty of hot water.Also, a few drops of olive oil is a rich source of hydration for the dry and irritated skin of both babies and adults.Particularly beneficial for the body is the oil massage onto hot towels because it helps the detoxification process of the body from the skin pores.For the face, olive oil besides serving as an excellent moisturizing and anti-aging cosmetic, may also be used as cleansing which nourishes the lashes and chapped lips.