Although Extra Virgin Olive Oil is one of the most consumed and celebrated products in the world, it hides some interesting facts that are capable of raising anyone’s eyebrow, including some of the most experienced experts!
Olive juice, which so characteristic of the Mediterranean diet, arrived more than 4,000 years ago, and conquered the Spanish diet, 25% of its arable land, and of course, it won over the Spanish tastebuds like nothing before. So, it is not surprising that even thousands of years after it arrived, it still hides many secrets.
If you wish to keep learning more about the marvellous mystery of EVOO – get comfy, read carefully, and feel free to share this article with your friends. These interesting facts are not only surprising, but are also great for sharing the love and passion we have for this liquid gold with the SIQEV seal.
The origin of the Spanish word for oil, ‘aceite’
Let’s start at the very beginning: the word. Just like the Spanish Word for olive ‘aceituna’, the origin of the Spanish word oil, ‘aceite’, dates back to the arabs, who coined the term ‘az-zait’ for the juice extracted from olives. The passage of time and the Hispanification of the word did the rest of the work. Interesting, right?
EVOO tasters use a cobalt blue glass
Perhaps you already know this, but it never ceases to amaze. EVOO tasters from all over the world use a cobalt blue glass so as not to be influenced by colour upon first inspection.
That’s because an intense green colour does not necessarily equate to an exquisite EVOO. Nor does a dark colour equate to a lower quality. Good Extra Virgin Olive Oils can be identified, above all, but their intense, fresh and fruity aromas.
Try it yourself at home with 2 different EVOOs and 2 cobalt blue glasses. And of course, make sure that one of those oils is a SIQEV oil. Which one do you prefer? Spolier alert: the SIQEV one, no doubt!
The oldest olive tree in the Iberian Peninsula is 3,353 years old… and it still produces olives!
Ok, we’ve got you here for sure. To visit the longest-living olive tree on the Iberian Peninsula, you must first travel to Portugal. More specifically, to Abrantes, a small city in the centre of the country with just 1,500 inhabitants. Here grows the ‘Mouchão’, or the ‘eternal olive tree’.
The oldest living thing on the Iberian Peninsula is just 3.2 metres tall (10’ 6“) and the perimeter of its trunks measures more than 11 metres. And here comes another interesting fact – these figures are the same as some olive trees found in Bethlehem, which are more than 4,500 years old. Just imagine what those trees must have seen!
Spaniards love EVOO, but they are not the main consumers
Surprising, but true. With an impeccable olive-growing tradition, in addition to being the largest producer in the world, Spain is not at the forefront of consumption. That’s why it is so important to spread and defend the culture of Extra Virgin Olive Olive outside of the Spanish borders.
So, which country takes the gold medal? It has to be Italy, where more than 500,000 tonnes of EVOO are consumed each year.
EVOO is the healthiest fat in the world
How could we end this list of interesting facts without mentioning the most relevant scientific facts of recent times? Yes, EVOO with the SIQEV seal is an essential product for the correct functioning of the body and is the healthiest fat in the world.
That is reflected in our exhaustive literature review, which compiles more than 40 scientific studies which identify the important health benefits that Extra Virgin Olive Oil has on the human body.
