The olive tree
The olive tree is a very old tree that has accompanied people over the centuries. It makes up the richness and secret of Provençal gastronomy. The Egyptians already used it for its cosmetic, gustatory and medicinal properties.
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A variety of 600 kinds of olives can be found in Provence. The best- known varieties are : the aglandau, the grossane, the salonenque, the picholine, the verdale and the lucques. Green or black, some kinds are used for direct consumption, normally as appetisers. The rest are used for making olive oil.
Virgin oil that is used for cooking is obtained by cold pressure. The olives are hand picked in autumn. They're then taken to the mills, where they are firstly crushed. The paste that is obtained is then pressed. A centrifuge then separates the oil from the water. Virgin olive oil has a very low acidity and is not subjected to any chemical treatments !
A slice of bread with a dash of olive oil is a real treat!
The most reputed oil comes from the Alpilles and Salon, the Middle and higher Var (Draguignan), and the Alpes-de-Hauts-Provence (Digne and Les Mées).
Olive oil is also used in the production of soap in Marseille. This green soap contains 72% of olive oil... |
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