At first glance, olive oil, a staple product found in many kitchens, seems to be a simple and well known item. After all, it has been around for thousands of years and its benefits have been touted by generations of farmers and companies big and small. Recently, however, the bland business of olive oil has taken on a new shine. Scientific analysis is confirming centuries of experience and explaining why olive oil, and especially extra virgin olive oil is so good for the human body.
From antioxidants for cancer prevention to beneficial cholesterol fighting abilities to aiding in combating heart disease, olive oil is proving to be a viable and preferred alternative to many other oils in kitchens around the world. As the popularity of EVOO grows, so does the need for education.
This presentation touches on several key areas, providing answers and encouraging further exploration of this "Liquid Gold" - a product of thousands of years of human agriculture, brought to light anew in the 21st century.
2. organic extra virgin olive oils
this not just olive oil: this is pure organic olive juice
3. sourced from the cleanest environment of Andalusia, Spain, the heart of olive oil country
4. sourced from small growers with limited production and centuries old tradition
5. ( ) Estate grown in Spain, at medium and small family-owned estates with long
tradition of crafting fine oils.
( ) Our olive trees were planted over two hundred years ago and the estates are in an
area of Spain (Andalusia) where olive oil has been produced for thousands of years,
going back to the times of the Roman Empire.
( ) The trees are not fertilized in any chemical way, only natural fertilizers such as
compost are used to replenish the soil.
( ) Our trees are ancient and do not have any GMO concerns.
6. ( ) All Sistema Organa oils are certified Organic.
( ) We have triple certification:
* from the Spanish authorities (CAAE)
* from the European Union
* from the USDA
( ) It takes multiple inspections over a course of three years for a farmer to become
certified organic. This assures consistent production methods and high quality
product.
( ) The farmers continue to be audited and must pass inspections to retain their
certifications.
7. a sign of organic, natural product: bird’s nest in one of our olive trees
8. ( ) Spain produces over 40% of world’s total olive oil output.
CONTROVERSY:
( ) Spanish oil is often used as the majority component in oils packaged in other Mediterranean
countries.
( ) This is often second quality oil.
( ) This blending of multiple oils leads to substandard product which has negative impact on consumer
experience and perception of olive oil in general.
( ) By law each manufacturer must disclose the origin of the oils used.
( ) Check fine print on the bottom of the back label: the oil you are buying may not be all that it is
claiming to be.
Sistema Organa oils are
guaranteed
100% Spanish origin.
10. our oils:
( ) Only Spanish olives are used.
( ) Each oil is made using one type of olive only.
( ) We do not blend our oils with anything. The oils are pure without any additives.
( ) Unlike other common brands of olive oils, we do not add oils from other countries
and sources.
11. ( ) There are over 200 varieties of olives.
( ) We are focusing on the most cultivated, best tasting varieties.
( ) Picual = The Robust (robust, peppery taste)
( ) Hojiblanca = The Mild (mild, smooth taste)
( ) Sistema Organa INTENSITY LEVEL scale
( ) Uses colors and positioning to easily distinguish between the two
12. ( ) Oil is extracted from the olives via traditional mechanical methods.
( ) We do not use chemicals or excessive heat.
( ) We only use oil from the first pressing.
( ) This allows us to designate our oils as: First Cold Pressed Oil.
SCIENCE:
Malaxation, a stage in olive oil extraction, is the action of slowly churning or mixing milled olives, typically for 20 to 40 minutes.
The churning allows the smaller droplets of oil released by the milling process to aggregate and be more easily separated.
The paste is normally heated to around 27° during th is process. Oil yield is proportional to the temperature and mixing time.
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However, the use of higher temperatures and longer mixing times increases oxidation of the oil and therefore decreases shelf
life, so a compromise must be struck.
The temperature of malaxation and extraction is crucial due to its effect on olive oil quality. When high temperatures are
applied the more volatile aromas are lost and the rate of oil oxidation is increased, producing therefore lower quality oils.
In addition, the chemical content of the polyphenols, antioxidants, and vitamins present in the oil is reduced by higher
temperatures.
Sistema Organa oils are First Cold Pressed,
retaining maximum health benefits and
superior taste.
13. UNFILTERED vs. FILTERED
or
MILD vs. ROBUST
( ) Our unfiltered “Mild” oil is actually lightly filtered.
( ) This removes pits and impurities, but leaves behind a bit of
pulp.
( ) Unfiltered oil is cloudy in appearance.
( ) Filtered oil is clear.
( ) Which is better? NEITHER! It’s a matter of taste and
preference.
( ) Think of it as being analogous to orange juice varieties with
pulp or without.
14. tastes the way mother nature meant it to be – no chemicals, no preservatives, all pure and natural
15. ( ) The oils are bottled directly at the estates.
( )This assures we control the whole process, quality, and reduces the carbon footprint as
we do not need to ship our oil to central production centers.
( ) Our oils are bottled in dark glass bottles.
( ) The reasons are as follows:
* glass is recyclable.
* glass does not interact with the oil unlike plastic or metal containers.
* glass does not release potentially harmful chemicals as might be the case with plastic.
* dark glass protects the oil from sunlight and UV rays which can bleach the oil of its
beneficial contents.
Clear glass, plastic bottles or metal
containers are not ideal for the
quality of oil.
Look for dark glass bottles!
16. ( ) When stored under
proper conditions of:
- low light
- dry
- cool temperature
our oils have a “best before
date” of no less than two
years from bottling date.
( ) Oil is not like wine, it does
not get better with age, so it
needs to be consumed in a
timely manner.
17. ( ) We did months of research to find our growers.
( ) We knew of several growers already from our familial roots to which we added a large
list and through personal investigation and third party interviews, we identified the hidden
gems of the Spanish farmers.
( ) Our personal relationships and knowledge was verified by the staff of the Andalusian
agriculture office which has strict controls in place to assure growers adhere to high
standards.
( ) In addition, we monitor our farmers to assure quality, and we also compensate them
with a premium price paid for our product.
Verified small and medium-sized
farmers producing high quality
product in an ethical manner.
18. ( ) We ship our oil via ocean-going freight and not air, reducing our carbon footprint.
( ) Our oils go from estate to ship without being stored in warehouses for extended periods of time.
( ) Our logistics assure just-in-time transports meant to bring the freshest oils to the markets as
quickly as possible.
confidential
19. olive oil taste
pairing oil with food can be just as complex as pairing food with wine
http://www.aromadictionary.com/EVOO_blog/?p=227
20. taste
sixteen sensory classes seventy two descriptors
bitter taste indicates high content of beneficial antioxidants
common attributes to look for:
Fruity: Having pleasant spicy fruit flavors characteristic of fresh ripe or green olives.
Bitter: Creating a mostly pleasant acrid flavor sensation on the tongue.
Pungent: Creating a peppery sensation in the mouth and throat.
pairing oil with food can be just as complex as pairing food with wine
22. choose to compliment or contrast:
Complimentary flavors:
blend of similar ingredients, oil does not overpower primary flavors:
( ) Mild oils enrich and complement subtle foods like fish, mushrooms, seafood and baked goods.
( ) Robust oils enrich and complement heartier foods like red meats and rich pastas.
Contrasting flavors:
separating each ingredient to bring out and harmonize both:
( ) Robust oil drizzled over fresh mozzarella contrasts the flavors
( ) Medium oil drizzled over hard cheeses contrasts sharpness and subtlety
23. health benefits of olive oil
( ) very high content of phenols, a beneficial, natural antioxidant compound.
( ) high in monosaturated fat beneficial to heart health.
( ) replacing butter with olive oil helps balance the ratio of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fats.
( ) a natural, deep penetration moisturizer, regenerating skin cells and softening the tissue.
( ) as part of Mediterranean diet, olive oil may be responsible in part for the low incidence
of heart disease.
( ) known to lower blood sugar levels and blood pressure.
( ) found to reduce oxidative damage to DNA and RNA, which may be a factor in
preventing cancer.
( ) protects against heart disease as it controls the "bad" levels of LDL cholesterol and
raises levels of the "good" HDL cholesterol.
( ) evidence suggests that eating about 2 tbsp. (23 g) of olive oil daily may reduce the risk
of coronary heart disease due to the monounsaturated fat in olive oil.
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