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THE
OLIVE TREES
Olive, Olea Europaea, is a slow growing tree of the Olea-Ceae (privet family), with undivided leaves and clusters of green flowers followed by blue-black oily fruits.
While green and unripe the fruits can be pickled in brine, Olive oil is extracted from the fruit by pressing.
The tree has been cultivated since ancient times especially on the borders of the Mediterranean Sea.
Throughout history the olive fruits have provided both the rich and the poor with oil, for cooking, lighting. Cosmetic and medicine, while the olives pickled in brine were an important food.
The olive tree has been cultivated from the earliest time in countries such as Greece, Italy, Southern Spain, Asia Minor and other Mediterranean countries more recently it has been introduced into Mexico, Chile, Peru, USA, China, South Africa and Australia,
though the chief supply of oil still comes from the Mediterranean Coasts.
There are around 100 known varieties of olives in Australia to name but a few.
| Arbequina |
Commonly grown in North-East Spain and has a small fruit size |
| Azapa |
Comes from South America, fruit size can vary and is mainly used for table fruit |
| Barnea |
Originated in Israel and is being planted in Australia for oil. |
| Barouni |
Has a good size fruit and is considered better for pickling than for oil |
| Correggiola |
The tree is a vigorous grower with small fruit with high oil content of excellent quality and is well proven in Australia |
| Frantoio |
The most noted olive variety of Tuscany, Italy. The fruit are small to medium size with high oil content. |
| Hardy’s Mammath |
A tough tree that bears good crops of large fruit. Ideal for pickling and oil |
| Hojiblanca |
Spanish oil variety which has a firm flesh making it suitable for pickling |
| Kalamata |
Greek variety is prized as a pickling fruit and is one of the most expensive in Australian delicatessens. |
| Nevedillo Blanco |
Spanish variety which is ideal for oil and is popular in Australia. |
| Picual |
Spanish variety ideal for oil |
| Sevillano |
This variety has large sized fruit not suitable for oil but can be used for pickling |
| Leccino |
Oil variety ideal for oil with small to medium sized fruit can also be pickled. |
| Manzanillo |
The most widely planted variety in Australian Groves, can be used for both pickling and oil production. |
| WA Mission |
Ideal for both oil production and pickling. |
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