What more could you want than a page full of impressions of olive oil from around the world. Olive oil is nature's wonder. In the Mediterranean, the olive harvest comes late in the fall and extends into the winter. The olives have to be removed in good condition from the tree either by hand or by mechanized method. After being smashed without breaking the pits, the liquid in the olives is removed and separates into two substances - the oil and a watery fluid.

The first oil of the harvest is often very green and less bland than later harvests from the more ripe olives. I have long loved olive oil that is full flavored. I find that olive oil from the middle east - both the Arab countries as well as Israel is among my favorites. Only recently have I come to appreciate some of the finer and subtler olive oils from Italy. These are typically used to finish dishes as opposed to the heartier flavored olive oils that can bring their own significant flavor to a dish.

More and more articles have been written recently about the trials and tribulations of consumers trying to get good Italian olive oil. Apparently the credibility that comes with olive oil being Italian has made it so that the quantity of olive oil marketed as "Italian" vastly outstrips the actual capacity of the country to create the stuff. This feat is accomplished by companies importing olive oil from other countries (like Spain) and then packaging it and shipping it as if it's Italian. In some cases there is some actual Italian olive oil mixed in with the foreign stuff.

Ultimately you need to rely on good recommendations, an experienced palate, and good notes. And as a reward for the hearty olive oil fan, olive oil contains mostly monounsaturated fatty acids (the good kind of fat), and no cholesterol.

Olive Oil I LOVE!

Olive Oil I Really Like.

• Mishelanu, Extra Virgin Olive Oil from the Galil (11/18/04)
  Galillee, Israel

Olive Oil I've tried.

• Badia a Coltibuono, Extra Virgin Olive Oil (11/18/04)
  Chianti-Siena, Italy
• Casa Brina Extra Virgin Olive Oil (11/18/04)
  Italy, web, Imported by Primavera Imports
• Castelas, Huile d'Olive, Verge Extra (11/18/04)
  De La Vallee Des Baux De Provence, Provence France
• Medi Terranea, Getsemani, Extra Virgin Olive Oil (11/18/04)
  Olivastro (Monolivaggio)
• Olio Extravergine Di Oliva "Pianogrillo" (11/18/04)
  "Tonda Iblea" e "Moresca", Sicily, Italy
• Rashaya's Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  First Cold Press, Lebanon
• Trampetti Olio, Extra Virgin Olive Oil (11/18/04)
  Italy, web, Imported by Ritrovo, Italian Regional Foods

Olive Oil I want to try (or retry).

• Al-Wazir
  Kobayler Brothers, Lebanon
• Frantoio Zedez, Proprietor's Select
  Zedez Ranch, California, website
• I Lecci
  Lago di Garda, Italy
• Mid East, El Koura
  J. E. Chahine, Lebanon
• Mina Oil
  Egypt, website
• Podere di Pillore
  Tuscany, Italy
• Tamari
  Jordan
• Tazah
  ???
• Villa Ferrale Laudemio
  Tuscany, Italy

Suggest an ingredient.

Have we missed an ingredient you adore? No problem. Just add your to our suggestion box.