Olive Oil Since Mythological Times

The olive tree is one of the few trees that bear fruit even in rocky, unproductive land. It is the oldest and one of the most helpful trees that are still widely used today. It has a history almost as long as that of the Western civilization. Its development is considered as one of civilized man's first accomplishments.

In Greek mythology, Zeus proclaimed he would award the Attica region to the deity who could devise the most useful invention. Poseidon submitted the horse. Athena offered the tiny olive. The horse could haul, carry, and even be used as an instrument of war, while the olive provided food, fuel ,and medicine, and was a symbol of peace. The horse had to be fed and cared for and lived only a few decades. The olive thrived in poor soil, with little water and bore fruit even for more than a hundred years. Athena won the contest hands down.

The olive tree is used throughout the world and has long been reported for its beneficial uses. People often use the oil from the fruit and seeds, water extracts of the fruit, and the leaves to make medicine. Recent health studies show that olives and olive oil help lower levels of bad cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart attacks and certain cancers.

The olive oil’s use nowadays is not limited to salad dressings nor cooking. Olives wholesale is a great source for keeping you healthy on the inside and maintaining your body beautiful on the outside. It is an ingredient often found in soaps, lotions, shampoos, conditioners, and the likes. In fact, in Ancient Greece, women applied olive oil to their skin and hair after bathing as protection from the elements and to maintain a pleasant fragrance. It moisturizes the skin and hair, making them healthy and looking youthful.

Spain is the world's largest overall producer of olive oil. It offers the largest variety of unique oils or stuffed olive that is as distinctive and diverse as nature itself. Spanish olive oil heightens the flavor of meals and reveals the creativity in gourmets.

Spain’s surprising variety of climates and micro-climates enables it to produce olives with a huge diversity of flavors and aromas. Some olive manufacturers offer olives wholesale or retail.