The Olive Oil Tradition of Salento: A Tradition Among Traditions
Welcome to this section entirely dedicated to the “historical and cultural value” represented by the olive oil tradition of Salento. As you may have gathered, ours is a family-run business that produces and high-quality extra virgin olive oil from Salento. If you’ve browsed around our portal a bit, you’ll have also learned and understood our philosophy: from producer to consumer. Our production employs various techniques depending on the type of oil we wish to obtain. Some shake the branches to dislodge the fruit; the oil obtained from these olives has a deep green color, a fruity almost citrusy aroma, and a bold flavor. Many, on the other hand, collect olives from the ground with specialized rakes, a technique that entails a significant time investment: the collected olives must be cleared of fallen branches and leaves, and we must wait for nature’s timing, allowing the fruits to fall spontaneously. Moreover, once harvested, they must be milled immediately.
The oil produced using this harvesting technique is generally a rich yellow color, with the fragrance of ripe fruit and a delicate, sweet taste. It’s remarkable to think that this fruit, which produces the yellow gold of the south, was once harvested entirely by hand, olive by olive, to maintain the integrity of the fruit and thus ensure the quality of the final product. In recent years, this simple yet rich product has attracted the interest of enthusiasts and connoisseurs, and like many local traditions, it is experiencing a moment of great success. Salento, after all, is a land rich in food and wine tourism and folklore, an abundance of customs and traditions that intrigue tourists from all over the world. Many vacationers, while visiting these areas for different reasons, find themselves in an entirely new world waiting to be discovered. The Salentinians have become truly adept in this: festivals, exhibitions, conferences, and itineraries specifically designed to promote these ancient traditions, along with vacation packages and special offers tailored with recommended paths.