Summer in Spain - Olive Trees

For the past month and a half I have been traveling throughout Europe. My main hub of operation is in the north of Spain, just west of Barcelona. Since my arrival I have seen a large variety of vegetation ranging from wild Thyme to the ancient Olive trees that speckle this wonderful country side. I figured that it would be a good opportunity to inform our followers about various ingredients we use that are native of the Mediterranean. This posting is dedicated to the Olive tree.

Basic Information

Olive trees have been grown domestically for over 10,000 years. This tree is found predominantly in the eastern Mediterranean countries and has been recently cultivated in similar climates in the Americas.

Botany

Olive trees are one of the most bizarre looking trees I have ever seen. A lot of the wild olive trees look more like pieces of drift-wood-art than a tree. This tree is part of the Evergreen species and typically grows to an approximate height of 10 meters. The leaves are quite small and have a leathery and greasy feel to them while the underside of the leaves are riddled with tiny white hairs. The olive fruit ripens towards the end of August - something I learned the hard way as I unsuspectingly and eagerly bit into an unripened olive (BITTER!!).

The Oil

The Oil derived from the fruit principally comes from the pulp and is extracted using a process known as cold press. The first runoff from the cold press is the purest and is referred to as ‘Virgin’ Olive Oil. Similarly to wine, there is a wide variety in the color, aromas and tastes of different oils depending on the region, climate, soil and irrigation methods used to cultivating this ancient looking tree.

Purpose In Skin Care

Olive oil used in natural skin care products can be rather beneficial and have been used in medicine for centuries. This oil is very rich in a variety of nutrients, antioxidants, vitamins A and E, as well as Omega 3. Olive Oil also carries some Polypheols which are known to help cell regeneration and fight aging. A key benefit of this oil is its natural moisturizer, Squalene. Squalene helps regulate your body’s natural secretion of Sebum and helps in overall maintenance of your skin’s appearance, health, and feel. This wonderful oil is great for the body and its benefits can be enjoyed either through topical or oral application. It is for these reasons that our company is proud to use high grade olive oil as a base for all of our soaps and moisturizers. The result is a high quality, long lasting product.

Additional information on Olive Oil

A Few of our Olive Oil Products

References:

The New Oxford Book of Food Plants.

National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge