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Fun facts about Olive Trees

Fun facts about Olive Trees

We have been harvesting olive trees for at least six thousand years. Believed to be cultivated in what is now Turkey and Syria the olive tree followed civilization, and now grows in northern and southern hemispheres, from Italy to Chile, California to Australia, and on every continent except Antarctica. There are more than 1000 varieties of olives, but less than 100 varieties account for 85 percent of olive oil. When the tree is no longer productive the wood, hard, richly figured, and fine grained makes it an ideal source of beautiful kitchen utensils, tableware, and cutting boards. We’ve got a...

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Want the best quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil? Know the PV number.

A PV of 20 is a maximum value for oil to be classified as Extra Virgin, but you should be looking for a PV below 10 to make sure your oil is fresh and will remain so for some time.

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What the heck are Polyphenols…and why should I care?

Polyphenols are powerful antioxidants and will bond with free radicals in the body minimizing their detrimental effects. Free radicals are a normal by-product of your metabolism but can also be caused by smoking, exposure to radiation, and other environmental conditions. Free radicals are unstable and look to bind with other molecules, causing damage to cells, arteries, and DNA. They have been linked to cancer, vision loss, and a host of other chronic conditions. If your go-to oil is a mild extra virgin olive oil you’ll rarely notice any bitterness or pungency. Phenol counts of less than a of 120 are...

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Why Does My Olive Oil Taste Funky?

If it tasted good to begin with (poor oil is sold more often than you think - see our blog post here ), and now it doesn't, check these three things that can cause "funky" taste. Light breaks down chemical bonds over time causing taste to become “off”. Store your olive oil in a sealed, dark container and keep it out of direct sunlight. Oxygen in the air is highly reactive, will bond with olive oil, and cause poor taste. Keep your bottles tightly corked. Using a pour spout is okay if you use the olive oil consistently, but if...

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