Five Delicious Ways to Learn More About Olive Oil

Posted by Olivia on Thu, February 02, 2012

Isn’t it time to make a resolution that you’re actually excited about keeping? This year, promise yourself to learn more about olive oil. With food experts like author Tom Mueller and school lunch reformer Jamie Oliver talking about olive oil, there’s never a dull moment around this “liquid gold.” To stay informed and enthused, we’ve got five great ways to learn more about olive oil this year.

Here’s to your health, and to your resolutions!

1. Visit an olive mill. Seeing olive oil being produced first-hand is a rare treat; we recommend it to all of our customers. It gives you a chance to see how authentic olive oil is really made, and it’s a great way for kids to get excited about food, too. At The Olive Press in Sonoma, we offercomplimentary tastings at our tasting bar, and if you call in advance, we’ll schedule a tour for groups under 10.
2. Try a new olive oil. Not all extra virgin olive oils are created equal! Some are naturally softer, sweeter, bolder, or nuttier—it all depends on the olive variety and the time of harvest. Never tried a Robust Koroneiki olive oil? Not sure what a Delicate Ascolano is like? Now’s the time to try a new variety. You’ll find they each give a different aroma and flavor to your dishes. Learn about the different types of extra virgin olive oil varieties here.
3. Try a new recipe. Olive oil isn’t just for salad dressings! You can use it to sauté, bake, and even poach. Learn about cooking with olive oil and safe temperatures here, and explore our free recipe database here. There’s no time like the New Year to expand your cooking repertoire to include more wholesome, homemade dishes.
4. Read more. Yes, reading more—isn’t it on all of our to-do lists for the year? To learn about the history and folklore about olive oil, or the production and market of it, or even just to master the cookery of olive oil, check out our favorite books here and here.
5. Stay educated. The world of olive oil is rapidly changing every day, and there’s lots of buzz to keep up with. Fraud in the marketplace, seasonal varietals, appearances at the local farmer’s market—who can keep track of it all? If you’re interested in learning more and staying abreast of olive oil news, here are some of our top sites we recommend: Tom Mueller’s blog called Extra Virginity; the Olive Oil Times website for all things olive oil news and policy; and our own blog at The Olive Press for recipes, news, events, and products.