Monday, June 28, 2010

There is no extra extra

IMG_0004

Near Verona, Bonamnini sits surrounded by vineyards and orchards of olive trees.

IMG_0003

They get a lot of visitors.

IMG_0007

It's very easy to get a tour of the olive oil factory. First they show you the old way of crushing the olives with the large granite stones that would roll around and around to press the olives.

IMG_0010

They explain to you the old way of spreading olive paste on these white circles then having them be pressed by that large machine. The machine would then spit out olive oil and water, which are separated. The oil left behind is extra virgin olive oil, the water they use to irrigate the trees and the pits of the olives they burn and use as fuel for heat and such.

IMG_0016

Then she took us to the new olive press.

IMG_0013

It's made out of stainless steel instead of granite. She explained that this is much better because the stainless steal doesn't contaminate the olives like the granite would have having been used for only one season.

IMG_0018

After everything is pressed and separated the new way they store the olive oil in these large vats. Then they eventually bottle it and sell it.

Interesting fact: olive oil people are liars. The experation date on the bottle is not the date from which the oil was pressed, but the date from which it is bottled. This can make for not so fresh olive oil sometimes.

Another dirty lie: there is no such thing as extra extra virgin olive oil. Just like there is no such thing as olive oil light. There is only extra virgin (which is what our lady guide produces and is the very best) and olive oil. There is no spoon. Name that movie. Olive oil has had chemicals added to it to make it palatable. Extra virgin has not.

IMG_0020

After explaining to use the process of bottling we got to the good part. The tasting.

IMG_0026

Small amounts to start.

IMG_0028

It's best if you warm the oil up in your hands first a little before tasting. It releases the flavors. Also, you know a good olive oil if when you swallow it burns your throat.

IMG_0030

Did that sound official or like I just made that part up? I'll let you decide.

IMG_0033

After the olive oil we got to taste a few of their olive pastes and some pesto made with their oil. Oh my holy smokes the pesto. A.MAZ.ING.

IMG_0034

IMG_0041

IMG_0038

IMG_0043I came home with some olive shampoo, pesto and artichoke hearts stored in olive oil. I'm saving the pesto for the winter time since I can easily make it now with so much fresh basil around.

Can't wait to take my love here when he gets back.

2 comments:

  1. How interesting! Ok, I'm probably one of those consumers who fell for the extra, extra :)

    Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a great excursion. Thanks so much for sharing this! I wanna go!

    ReplyDelete

You are a lovely person.