Saturday, 14 November 2015

Central Coast California Olive Farm

By Mattie Knight


People make a big deal about visiting a winery, tasting the fruit of the vines, and enjoying the atmosphere as well as crusty bread and cheese that complement the wines. If you enjoy vineyard tours, you'll love a visit to a central coast California olive farm, where you can experience a variety of fine olive oils produced right on site. As for a wide choice of different tastes, you'll find that, too, in the various Tuscan or Italian style oils.

Descriptions of oils that describe the 'peppery taste' or the 'bold and assertive' flavor may not mean much to those of us used to the imported oils that we find on grocery store shelves. Visiting an olive farm will be the first step in your education. It could also be the highlight of your visit to the west coast.

The majority of central coast grove are family owned and operated, and many award-winning oils are produced there. These small groves are a deliberate mix of cultivars. Authorities agree that a mixed grove produces a better oil in the end, as do hand-raising and harvesting techniques. An extra virgin oil is blended and bottled within one day of harvest. Extreme care is taken to protect oils from heat and light during the process, as well as during storage.

It's fun to read descriptions of the different products and of the groves they come from. You will see that olives are picked when ripe, but green ones may be mixed in for a better flavor. The top growers look down on the imported brands sold in most supermarkets. It's true that California certified extra virgin oils have met far stricter standards than those which regulate international trade.

In California, there is a special seal awarded to oils that have met standards set by the Olive Growers Council, a quality-control organization. Chemical tests are followed by blind tastings by experts trained to detect defects such as rancidity or the presence of impurities. Oils that pass this annual assessment are then given the 'certified extra virgin' seal that is their highest mark of quality. The central region has its own competitions and awards, too.

California farmers are proud of their oils with good reason. Since 1900, when a California product won the highest honors at the Paris exposition, no one can deny that the Golden State is suitable for olives. Many of the trees growing in California today come from Tuscan stock, but some growers treasure descendants of trees that were planted at missions founded by Spanish monks before the region was a state.

Olives can only grow in dry, sunny, hot climates where winters are mild. For this reason, they are often grown along a southern seacoast. They need limestone soils that are well-drained and not too rich, which makes for sickly trees. When they are happy, they live for hundreds if not thousands of years. Fortunately, the Golden State has the 'terroir', or environment, to allow olives to flourish.

If you are intrigued with the idea of subtle nuances (as well as superior health benefits) of oils grown right here in the USA, visit the central coast and see what gourmets all over the world already know: The people of California know their olives. A whole world of health and good taste is awaiting you in the only place in the US that has what this venerable fruit needs.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment