The Benefits of Olive Oil
We once had a conversation with a fitness enthusiast who, despite her dedication to a healthy lifestyle, felt persistently tired. She was meticulous about her diet and exercise regimen, but it turned out that the issue might have been linked to the type of cooking oil she used. She preferred vegetable oil for its neutral taste, as her children were not fond of olive oil, and she believed that vegetable oil was a healthier choice for heart health.
A few years ago, we might have agreed with her view on vegetable oil, but our understanding has evolved.
What is Olive Oil?
Olive oil is produced by crushing olive fruit in granite millstones or stainless steel hammermills into a paste, and separating the natural oils from the olive pulp. This process yields cold pressed extra virgin olive oil. The high quality olive oil, produced from green olives harvested at their peak ripeness, does not need to undergo refinement , giving extra virgin olive oil its unique name. Lower quality oil, on the other hand, is refined to eliminate the slightly bitter after-taste and is commonly known as ‘light’ or pure ‘olive oil’. Olive oil is commonly stored in tinted glass bottles to preserve the product from degradation as it has a short shelf life to start with.
Its competitor - vegetable oil - is extracted from a blend of fats present in multiple plant sources such as sunflower, corn, canola, soy or safflower, and is typically processed to enhance its shelf life, which decreases its nutrient density and flavor profile. This is why vegetable oil has a neutral flavor, perfect for frying if you need the food’s actual flavor to shine through.
This difference in the extraction process, as well as the countless health benefits it provides, is reflected in the hike in price of the product!
Olive Oil in Cooking:
Its high smoke point (400 degrees F or higher) makes it ideal for frying. According to a review published in 2017, frying foods in olive oil can help maintain and even improve it’s nutritional value. However, due to olive oil’s pungent taste, it might overpower the original taste of the food being fried. This is why it works best when used for sauteing or as a salad dress. The slightly bitter after-taste makes olive oil a unique condiment.
Need some inspiration for your next dish incorporating olive oil? We’ve got a few suggestions; you could try this Basic Vinaigrette to go with your salads or as a bread dip, this easy Pantry Pasta for your main course, or this Olive Oil Cake for dessert. Don’t trust us, trust Claire Saffitz and her taste buds - these taste heavenly!
Palestine - The Land of the Olives
Now you might ask - if olive oil is so good, then why is it not more widely available? Well, olive oil is also very expensive and not as readily available because most olives grow along the Mediterranean coast and have to be imported all the way from there. Moreover, a lot of olives are required to produce olive oil; 10 kilograms of olives only produce about 1 kilogram of olive oil. The opportunity cost here is high too, as the olives could be fermented and sold as food instead, which would’ve been profitable too. Thus, if you live anywhere away from the Mediterranean, chances are your olive oil is either imported or the olive fruit is imported and the oil is cold-pressed near you.
For Palestine, located in the eastern Mediterranean region and also known as the land of the olives, this is not a problem. Olive trees thrive in the Mediterranean climate. The harvesting usually begins in August and lasts through November, depending on the desired level of ripeness. This is usually the time for locals to gather and participate in the harvesting; you can choose to climb the trees or work on the ground. The process is about feeding people and sharing food and stories, it is about hospitality and is followed by an Olive Harvesting Festival in which locals and visitors enjoy dances, music, and indulge in the celebration of the olive tree and its significance to the Palestinian lifestyle and culture.
The fruit is then sold locally or prepared for exportation. Since the olive is essentially a fruit, its shelf life is limited and this needs to be considered when preparing for its exportation. Contrary to popular belief, oils can go rancid; extra virgin olive oil has an average shelf life of 18-24 months, unopened, and should be consumed within 6 months of opening the bottle.
The Trade-Off
As already discussed, the more processing an oil undergoes, the fewer nutrients it maintains. Olive oil is only extracted from pressed olives, whereas vegetable oil is extracted from different sources (such as canola, sunflower, soybean, etc.). This means that more processing is required before it is fit for consumption. As a result, you can expect lower nutritional value from vegetable oil as compared to olive oil.
Extra virgin olive oil is the least processed type of olive oil, which is why it is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. In contrast, the refining process that vegetable oils undergo destroys nutrients, antioxidants, and beneficial plant compounds.
What about the difference in prices? As of 31st October 2021, the price of olive oil stands at a whopping $4,366.58 per metric ton in the global markets. Meanwhile, the price of vegetable oil is only $175.70 per metric ton in the global markets. The difference between the prices of the two oils is substantial, but so is the difference between the benefits they offer and their favour profiles. While olive oil maintains its slightly bitter flavor, vegetable oil is completely tasteless, which makes it perfect for recipes where you need to incorporate an oil without disrupting it’s original flavor.
Why should you be consuming HLD Olive Oil?
Olive oil should be chosen very wisely. If it is the benefits of antioxidants that you're after, you should opt for Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Its lack of processing allows for a richer product that delivers countless benefits.
Holy Land Dates deals in only the most premium, authentic, extra virgin olive oil. It is cold pressed from olives harvested from a few of the oldest olive trees in the world at Palestine, providing for a more pronounced flavor to elevate your dish. Our extra virgin olive oil is free of any preservatives or additives, evident from it’s minimal ingredients list to give you the very best product from the “home” of the olive trees. We use ancient traditions and age-old farming techniques to guarantee ideal, high quality olives for the finest extra virgin olive oil.
HLD provides you with an opportunity to give back to the community by buying from small businesses and supporting families and businesses in Palestine with 50% of all net profits going towards helping vulnerable children all over the world.