Many small Olive oil producers are found throughout the world and some of the best are found in Italy and the surrounding countries of the Mediterranean.The climate in this region is ideal for the growth of the olive tree and producing large crops of fine olives, both edible and for use in the production of Olive oil. Olive oil consists of a complex mix of organic acids, including fatty acids, water soluble components and small pieces of olives. This mixture then produces a wonderful oil which has been used and revered by man over the centuries.
Livinginlemarche.com is based in the Le Marche region of Italy and we believe that Olive oil from there is some of the finest you can find in the whole of Italy.
The olive tree can be cultivated in any soil, but does not do well in wind-swept areas, areas which remain too warm in the winter and also where there is too much rainfall. The tree requires very little care and it is fully exploitable, both as wood, leafage, fruit and also some by products. But for pollination to occur successfully the trees need to be subjected to cold temperatures in the winter period, one reason why Olive oil production is not found in desert areas.
Olive oil has been produced from prehistory in the Mediterranean and was used by the Greeks, Egyptians and later the Romans. The culture of this area has grown around the use of Olive oil in all aspects of daily life and now the production and use of Olive oil has spread throughout the world and to places as diverse as, Spain, Japan, Australia and California.The Olive tree has a very long life for this type of plant and is of ancient Asian origin and can live to several hundred years in the right environment. The tree can grow up to a height of 20 metres and is often twisted with age and have a cracked and knarled bark. The leaves are a beautiful pale green, the plant is evergreen and may only loose many of its leaves when subjected to either high winds or extremely low temperatures.
Olive oil is known and used throughout the world and has in the past 20 years grown in popularity and usage. Organic Extra Virgin Olive oil is one of the great pleasures in life and at livinginlemarche.com we are hoping to bring the experience of using fine oils to many more people throughout the UK and US. We are passionate about fine Organic Extra Virgin Olive oils and especially so about single estate and mono varietal Extra Virgin Olive oils that are produced in the Le Marche and Umbria regions of Italy, and in other areas of the central Mediterranean. Our long term aim is to promote many of the excellent small producers and to provide wider exposure of their excellent Organic Extra Virgin Olive oils.These small producers of fine Organic Extra Virgin Olive oils have largely been overlooked by importers and so we have decided to where possible try and help the producers of fine Olive oils from other Mediterranean countries such as Malta as well as just Italy.
Most Organic Extra Virgin Olive oils on the market are normally made up of blends of different varieties of Olives and as well as these we are also trying to source Olive oils made from only one variety of Olive, normally the Raggia , Ascolano, Fasolino, Sargano or Leccino.These mono varietal Olive oils offer a new experience in taste, texture and colour to the consumer and the differences can be striking, but can be more expensive to produce and purchase. But in terms of quality they often outshine the normal blended Olive oils and the variety of tastes can be breathtaking.
Livinginlemarche.com as a business is mainly involved in the sale and restoration of beautiful properties in the Le Marche region of Italy, but we come across small Olive oil producers all the time. As we are proactive in promoting all aspects of the Le Marche region, we now hope that by helping in the promotion of small specialist Olive oils over the next few years we can help small producers to diversify into planting more and more single varieties of Olives so as to produce a much wider selection of mono varietal olive oils on the market. When you next are looking to buy an Olive oil for consumption at home, firstly make sure it is Extra Virgin, then if possible produced organically and finally try and find a mono varietal oil, your perseverance will definitely pay off!!
