Olives... a gift from the Gods!
I have wanted to pick olives since before arriving in Italy. Laurie and Norma introduced us to their friend Eve who has over 70 trees to be harvested. Our perfect day was spent snatching delicious tidbits off trees while marveling at fantastic scenery and our good fortune at knowing such interesting and diverse people.
Eve must have a minimum of 100 kilos (220.46 lbs) of olives to get them pressed into what Homer called "liquid gold." We all worked well together and had a great amount of fun. I got to climb trees which is one of my favorite things to do. We had lunch overlooking such beauty and it was a spectacular autumnal day to be outdoors...out in it all. Plus we got to help in the making of exquisite, famous Umbrian olive oil.
Italians, and now the rest of the discerning world, treasure the distinguishing qualities of Umbrian olive oil for its superb taste and for its beneficial effects. The source of Umbria's pre-eminence in the world of olive oils is derived form three factors: first, the soil (rocky and acidic) and climate (hot and dry in the summer, cold and wet in the winter) create a perfect environment for olive trees; second, the tradition of olive oil production that stretches back thousands of years prohibits the introduction of artificial measures used in many oil producing regions; and, third, the characteristics of Umbrian oil, dark green with a potent bite at the back of the mouth, indicating a high concentration of polyphenols, the anti-oxidants that produce many of olive oil's health benefits.
"Good oil, like good wine, is a gift from the gods.
The grape and the olive are among the priceless benefactions
of the soil, and were destined, each in its way,
to promote the welfare of man."
George Ellwanger
The grape and the olive are among the priceless benefactions
of the soil, and were destined, each in its way,
to promote the welfare of man."
George Ellwanger
2 comments:
I have always wanted to do that too! How do they taste? Wonderful I bet!
I don't love olives but maybe I just haven't had an UMBRIAN olive! I will give them a chance... :)
It looks beautiful in the olive grove!
***
Post a Comment