Did You Know that More Olive Oil Comes from Puglia than from Any Other Region in Italy? Puglia’s relationship with olive trees dates back 2700 years. 50-60 million trees (no one knows for sure) – including ancient, gnarled trees, called “ulivi secolari” (literally centuries-old olive trees)- attest to the long standing importance of olive trees here. In fact, Puglia has approximately 60 million olive trees! That’s one for each and every citizen of Italy!
You may have thought that most of Italy’s olive oil came from Tuscany or Sicily but, in fact, more comes from Puglia than any other region – approximately 40%. In addition to quantity, Puglia’s olive oil is considered to be some of the most palatable in the world for its digestibility and high vitamin content.
Puglia also has the distinction of having four (4) Denomination of Origin of Production areas. The envy of other regions, prized trees were once stolen in the dark of night! (Today, laws protecting the illegal appropriation of trees are enforced.)
Azienda Agricola Taurino, in Squinzano (near Lecce), is typical of a family owned/operated farm. In 1985, siblings Donato and Rosaria joined their parents and expanded their farm to 150 hectares of olive trees. The family takes pride in “hands on” oversight of every stage of production from growth to processing of the olives to ensure that the highest standards and guidelines are followed. Utilizing the latest technology in a spotlessly clean facility, the entire process is carefully supervised to ensure the highest quality, organic oil.
After a very informative guided tour by Valentino who is a Doctor of Agriculture, we enjoy a learn how to taste organic extra virgin olive oil. Much like wine tasting it’s a version of swirl+smell+sip+swallow. Spicy and slightly bitter denotes high quality – now, I’m hungry! And it’s perfect timing for a delicious picnic under the olive trees! You can take (or better yet, send) a little bit of Puglia home and you can also Adopt-a-Tree (I did!) and enjoy your own olive oil! Doesn’t that sound delicious?
If you visit in October during harvest it’s a special time when you can celebrate traditional festivities with locals including dancing the pizzica under thousands of ancient olive trees! Doesn’t that sound delightful?
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