Olives

There is perhaps no silhouette more iconic than that of the dark, sturdy, twisted olive tree. They are most at home along the Mediterranean coastline, their place of origin. Evidence shows that Olive Trees may have been growing in modern day Italy anywhere from 20 to 40 million years ago.However, olives were not cultivated until roughly 7000 years ago in the eastern Mediterranean region. Their edible form appeared in 3150 BCE; and they have become an essential part of the Mediterranean diet ever since. The fruit that Olive Trees bear is hard and bitter,but made edible and delicious through a curing and fermentation process.

 bout 90% of harvested olives are used to make olive oil, the main ingredients source of fat in the vast majority of Mediterranean cooking.

star

Leave a comment