Olives are a unique food. One of only a few which contain all the macro nutrients and lots of micro nutrients. This is why we hear so much about the health benefits of olives and their oil. The oil has been highly valued for thousands of years and is now an important commodity all over the world. This inevitably leads to vast differences in quality and sometimes fraud. Buying small batch extra virgin olive oil ensures higher quality, better taste and a healthier product.
The best olive oil is the first press of carefully selected, decent fruit which should be left in its natural state. This is what you get when buying extra virgin from small batches. The producers take great care to make an artisan product which retains its flavor and health giving properties.
Small batch varieties are usually made from hand picked olives which are carefully sorted. The best ones are carefully pressed to extract the purest form of oil. It is left unfiltered and unrefined retaining all the vitamins, minerals and aromatic polyphenols. Larger scale production is mechanized and often destroys the natural characteristics of the fruit. Factories also use solvents to extract every droplet from the fruit and residues of these chemicals can be found in the oil.
Recent research has shown an alarming rise in the adulteration of oils. This is done in order to make more money from a harvest. The olive oil is mixed with other, cheaper oils such as canola, peanut and soy. This is potentially dangerous to those with food allergies. It is also unfair to consumers who think they are purchasing a healthy product. Cheap vegetable oils are inferior in their nutritional content and unstable when cooked. They have the potential to go rancid easily and cause liver damage.
Small producers who care about their product and image are much less likely to do this. Many enter their oils into competitions so checking out the winners is a good way to find quality oil. The down side to this is that once a producer has achieved an excellent reputation their produce is worth more. Learning to identify pure oils for yourself can be a good way to get decent ones while spending less.
Identifying the real stuff is not so hard and it is worth knowing how to do it. Many of us have been eating impure versions for years so may not be sure what the real ones taste like. The best way to know is to check the smell and then taste it. You should look for aromas of grass, fruity notes and of course olives when sniffing the oil. To taste it take about a tablespoon into your mouth, roll it round and then swallow it. As it passes the back of your throat you should get a bitter taste. This is from the polyphenols which give rich flavors and are also full of antioxidants so great for health.
The benefits of the Mediterranean diet are now widely promoted, particularly in relation to heart health. Olives and their delicious oil are an intrinsic part of that lifestyle. The olive tree has a mythic status in the region and for good reason. The people know that it gives them life and helps them stay healthy through to old age. Cheap, adulterated oils will not give these advantages, in fact they are probably harmful.
Quality olive oil is a fantastic ingredient to have on hand to make tasty meals. Added to dips, salads and even just poured over bread it is a complex and delicious food. It is worth paying more for proper oil with all its health giving nutrients and wonderful aromas.
The best olive oil is the first press of carefully selected, decent fruit which should be left in its natural state. This is what you get when buying extra virgin from small batches. The producers take great care to make an artisan product which retains its flavor and health giving properties.
Small batch varieties are usually made from hand picked olives which are carefully sorted. The best ones are carefully pressed to extract the purest form of oil. It is left unfiltered and unrefined retaining all the vitamins, minerals and aromatic polyphenols. Larger scale production is mechanized and often destroys the natural characteristics of the fruit. Factories also use solvents to extract every droplet from the fruit and residues of these chemicals can be found in the oil.
Recent research has shown an alarming rise in the adulteration of oils. This is done in order to make more money from a harvest. The olive oil is mixed with other, cheaper oils such as canola, peanut and soy. This is potentially dangerous to those with food allergies. It is also unfair to consumers who think they are purchasing a healthy product. Cheap vegetable oils are inferior in their nutritional content and unstable when cooked. They have the potential to go rancid easily and cause liver damage.
Small producers who care about their product and image are much less likely to do this. Many enter their oils into competitions so checking out the winners is a good way to find quality oil. The down side to this is that once a producer has achieved an excellent reputation their produce is worth more. Learning to identify pure oils for yourself can be a good way to get decent ones while spending less.
Identifying the real stuff is not so hard and it is worth knowing how to do it. Many of us have been eating impure versions for years so may not be sure what the real ones taste like. The best way to know is to check the smell and then taste it. You should look for aromas of grass, fruity notes and of course olives when sniffing the oil. To taste it take about a tablespoon into your mouth, roll it round and then swallow it. As it passes the back of your throat you should get a bitter taste. This is from the polyphenols which give rich flavors and are also full of antioxidants so great for health.
The benefits of the Mediterranean diet are now widely promoted, particularly in relation to heart health. Olives and their delicious oil are an intrinsic part of that lifestyle. The olive tree has a mythic status in the region and for good reason. The people know that it gives them life and helps them stay healthy through to old age. Cheap, adulterated oils will not give these advantages, in fact they are probably harmful.
Quality olive oil is a fantastic ingredient to have on hand to make tasty meals. Added to dips, salads and even just poured over bread it is a complex and delicious food. It is worth paying more for proper oil with all its health giving nutrients and wonderful aromas.
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