COME LEARN MORE ABOUT OLIVE OILS WITH ANDORINHA

Olive oil is the pure juice of olives.

- Olive oil is the pure juice of olives.
- The olive tree is a very slow growing tree. It starts to bear fruit from the age of 5 (it depends on the variety and the farming system) until 100–150 years.
- There are no green or black olive trees. The change in color is due to the ripening process.
- To extract 1 liter of olive oil, on average, 5 to 6 kg of olives are needed.
- Olives have varieties, just like wine. There are a number of varieties of olives, including galega, cordovil, verdeal, cobrançosa, and others.
- The different varieties have different characteristics. For example, some have a strong flavor while others have a milder flavor.
- At the beginning of the harvest, the olives are greener, leading to more bitter, spicier oils. At the end of the harvest, olive oils are usually sweeter and softer.
- To get good oil, the secret is in a good blend. The blend is a mixture of several types of oils, allowing to combine different qualities and varieties, in order to obtain oil that combines a good balance of attributes.
- Unlike wine, olive oil deteriorates over time. Being exposed to light or air, and high temperature cause the oil to oxidize — so it is better to consume it sooner than later.
- At very low temperatures, oil can solidify. However, it will return to its initial appearance when it is back to room temperature, without losing any of its characteristics.
- Acidity is not related to oil smell or taste. Acidity is a quality parameter not detectable by flavor and/or smell.