There are so many kinds of Olive Oils in the world, but there is always one that stands out. People seek and go for the best quality available without having to spend a big portion of their income. We all know that everybody wants to enjoy the best, whether it may be for our own personal use or as a gift to special or important persons in our life. Olive oil has proven to be the most in-demand oil and has been continuously recommended based on scientific studies. The usage since ancient times served also as the ultimate proof of evidence for its importance. Olive oil has already merged with our lives making it an indispensable companion as we journey into what is called life.
Olive Oil is a healthy liquid fat obtained from olives. The Olive Oil is produced by pressing whole olives and extracting the oil. Olive is a species of a small tree in the family Oleaceae which is traditionally found in Mediterranean countries like Turkey. The average lifespan of an olive tree is 300 to 600 years. There are still cases of these trees that are living beyond six hundred years. Therefore, the generation of today in that area is still harvesting from the tree their forefathers have planted, making it a living testimony of a family’s love and industry handed down from generation to generation! The olive tree keeps on bearing fruit and nurturing people from then and now.
The olive tree ranges in height from 10 to 40 feet and has many branches that are full of green feather-like leaves. It grows well in an arid and well-draining soil with the Mediterranean climate like Turkey’s long, warm, and dry summers and moderately warm and rainy winters. The olive tree thrives in any part of the world where the weather is similar to that of the Mediterranean area. It is a sturdy plant where the wood is resistant to decay. Furthermore, olive tree wastes provide renewable energy as when it burns, it produces 2.5 times the heat of burning an ordinary wood. Its ash can be used as fertilizers, and the smoke is usually harmless. The olive tree is a beautiful and incredible plant. Many consider it as the most healthful and powerful of all the trees, and indeed it has withstood the test of time. It is no wonder that its branches have been regarded as a symbol of peace in this whole world.
In order to get the oil from the olives, olive oil extraction is made. This process is to separate the oil from the other fruit contents. It is even possible to attain the separation by physical means only unlike the processes done in other Olive Oils where an extraction has to be made using chemical solvents. Of course, the first step in the extraction process is to wash thoroughly the olives in order to reduce any presence of contaminants such as soil which would make a flavor tasting like soil. People have been using olive presses since about 5,000 years ago. Some of these old presses are still in existence and are on display at museums.
An olive press is used by applying pressure to olive paste to separate the liquid Olive Oil and water from the solid residue. Then the Turkish Olive Oil and vegetable water that are collected are separated by the standard process of decantation. Decantation is simply understood as the method of separating liquids from solids and other non-mixing liquids by removing the layer at the top from the layer of solid or liquid from below. This basic method is still widely used today since it is still an excellent way of producing quality olive oil. Just like in other operations, adequate safety precautions are always observed. With the advancement of technology, olive oil processes are mixed with the traditional method to come up with the best results.
Turkey’s olive oil production, exports, and consumption have steadily increased throughout the past several years conveying a clear message that the country can become the largest producer of olive oil in the world. A large portion of these oils has been exported to other countries like Spain and Italy to be blended with other oils before re-exported to countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Because of the increasing awareness about the health benefits of olive oil and due to maintaining a low price, demand has skyrocketed.
Olives and Turkish Olive Oil are key ingredients in Turkish cuisine. It is a part of their culture. It is understandable that Turkish food is often made around olives and olive oil because of its profound cultural, historical, and production origin. There are five common olive varieties in Turkey which are: first is the Celebi olives that are small and intended for the table, this originated from the Lake Iznik area; second is the Memecik olives that are green and mid-sized with rich taste found in the Aegean region; third is the Memeli which is grown in Izmir and are usually preserved in brine; fourth is the Gemlik olives that have a high oil content and depth of taste and texture which is good for the table and oil production; and last but not the least, if the Domat olives found in the Aegean area and considered as the best green olives for stuffing with garlic and others. OlivesOilsLand® company is one of the leading producers and exporters of Turkish olives and Turkish Olive Oil. It has grown from a traditional family enterprise to one of the biggest olive oil producers and exporters from Izmir City, Turkey.