Olive
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The
Olive and Olive Oil
Uses
of Olive Oil
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of Olive Oil
Olive
Oil and Health
Olive
Oil and Beauty
Olive
Oil and Hands
History
of Olive Oil
Types
of Olive Oil
Countries
and Olive Oil
Olive
Oil in Recipes
An
Olive Oil Story
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Oil Recipes:
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Countries and Olive
Oil
Olive trees are cultivated
world wide these days, but the vast majority (95%) is still found in the
Mediterranean region. Most of the global production originates in Southern
Europe, North Africa, and the Near East.
Spain produces between 40% and 45% of the world's olive oil and accounts
for 93% of European olive oil production; Italy, Greece, and Portugal
account for the rest. Interestingly, Italy's consumption far outweighs
its production and therefore it has to import large quantities of olive
oil from its neighbors. Much of the olive oil marketed world-wide as "Italian"
is actually a blend of Italian oil plus oils from other countries.
Olive growing in Greece accounts for 60% of its land cultivation. Most
of the olive oil produced is extra virgin oil and much of that is exported
to EU countries, principally Italy.
Australia has a fairly large olive oil production industry and its oil
is exported to Asia and Europe. Some growers produce premium oils, whereas
others manage groves containing millions of olive trees and export oil
for the general market.
South Africa now has an embryonic olive oil industry producing extra virgin
olive oil, and is expanding production all the time.
However, most people, unless they taste olive oil for a living, are unable
to tell the difference between oils produced from different countries.
It is impossible to categorically state that extra virgin oil from one
country is any better than another. You might be able to differentiate
between oils of varying qualities, or freshness, but regional variations
are only apparent to experts in the field.
There are many different olive varieties and these vary between the different
countries and regions. Consequently, whilst there is some variation in
olive oil flavors between different countries due to the difference in
olive varieties, plus other variables like soil type, climate, and time
of harvesting, these variations are very subtle and not apparent to the
average consumer.
The biggest single factor in olive oil flavor is quality of oil, freshness
of that oil, and your own unique taste. What might taste wonderful to
one person, might well taste too strong and bitter to another. Consumer
surveys have consistently shown that different people have different taste
preferences.
So when it comes to choosing a variety of olive oil, all the consumer
really needs to worry about is the quality and freshness of the oil, not
where it originated from.
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