Tag: science

Extra Virgin Oil: Carolea

28.5.2018

The oil, coming from the quality of olive called “Carolea”,  is green or yellow in colour, has noticeable greenish reflections and a scent of cut grass. At the same time it has a spicy and bitter taste. Usually intense and full of aromas is perfect  for vegetables dishes, meat and fish, both grilled and in the oven.

“Carolea” is an olive cultivar well present in Calabria, a key-product of Mediterranean tradition of Calabrian Oil. This Extra Virgin Olive Oil,  along with the monocultivar Nocellara, is a production of rare excellence, which speaks of Calabrian territory and its Mediterranean (Greek) origins.

The cultivar is vigorous and highly productive, with an upward growth form, a great resistance to cold temperatures and a foliage as a reversed pyramid. The olives are used both for oil and as table olive. Oil yield is high and reaches a peak in November.

The territory of Carolea is mainly the provinces of Cosenza and Catanzaro.

 

 

Organic Extra Virgin Oil: Nocellara del Belice

30.3.2018

AN ORGANIC HIGH QUALITY OIL

There is a high-regarded quality of extra-virgin olive oil, which is cold-extracted from organically farmed Nocellara del Belice olives, hand-picked in the area of  Cosenza, Calabria. This oil  is rich in fruity notes of ripe tomato, has fragrant hints of mint and sage and a flavor strong and vegetal.  Bitterness is powerful and the spiciness is intense. With regard to color this oil is deep golden yellow with shades of green.

This oil is perfect simply drizzled over toasted bread, grilled fish, hearty soups, pasta and seasoned cheeses. Further, this Calabrian olive oil is ideal on fish and in fish sauces, but also substantial enough to match nicely with meat  and vegetables.

 

A SPECIAL CULTIVAR

“Nocellara del Belice” is an olive cultivar well present in Calabria, a key-product of Mediterranean tradition of Calabrian Oil. It has, anyway, its origins in the Valley of Belice, an area of south-western Sicily. Further, Nocellara del Belice olives, which grows primarily in Sicily, is also planted  in India, Pakistan and South Africa.

This special  cultivar is a dual-purpose olive, grown both for oil and for the human consumption.

There are two DOP (protection of denomination):

  • Valle del Belìce DOP olive oil and
  • Nocellara del Belice DOP table olives.

Both have protected status in the European Union.

With regard to oli production, this special Nocellara is used to make “Valle del Belìce” extra-virgin olive oil, which is pressed from a minimum of 70% Nocellara del Belice olives. As a table olive it may be treated by various methods, one of which is named for the comune of Castelvetrano in the Valle del Belice. These well known olives are marketed as Castelvetrano olives in the United States and elsewhere, and can be recognized as large, green olives with a mild, buttery flavor.