More about the olive

Olive oil has been used through the millennia as an important ingredient in health, medicinal and beauty products.  There is strong evidence both within Greek traditions and historical accounts to suggest that olive oil has special, unique properties. 

Even Greek mythology accentuates the importance that the olive tree, its fruit and its oil had in the ancient world.  In fact, at that time, an entire culture developed around this tree and its products.  It was a huge part of daily life, in terms of worship (it is still considered sacred in many parts of the world), economy (it was used as a bartering tool, a currency), health and nutrition.

Olives have been grown and harvested since 3rd century BC (over 2300 years).  A great amount of knowledge about the cultivation and harvesting of olives was attained during Ancient Times and in fact, the harvesting takes place in much the same way today, as it did then.

For the type of olive trees that dropped their fruit, the olives were collected from the ground, whereas for those trees that held onto their fruit, the olives were knocked down from the trees with a long stick.  The collected olives were then crushed, the pulp pressed and the oil separated from the water.