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From how to make olive oil to what exactly “extra virgin” means, Paul and Steven talk about all things extra virgin olive oil, a subject obviously close to their hearts.

You’ll discover:

  • How old olive trees are
  • When olives are harvested and how
  • Why Puglia extra virgin olive oil, NOT Tuscan extra virgin olive oil, is the best
  • What exactly “extra virgin” means
  • Why pungent and bitter extra virgin olive oil is a good thing
  • Why extra virgin olive oil is a fruit oil, not a vegetable oil
  • Why the old farmers used to pick olives barefoot
  • How the olives are milled
  • Why yield is important when harvesting olive and making extra virgin olive oil
  • Why we stay at the mill during the entire process
  • How many olive trees there are in Puglia — it’s probably a lot more than you think


Links and Resources

Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil
GREAT book all about extra virgin olive oil and all the corruption in the system.  We highly recommend it.

Olive Oil Times.   A great resource for all things olive oil.

Pictures from some of our harvests

How to make olive oil
Using a mechanical shaker to pick the olives.
How to make olive oil
Paul harvesting olives with a stick.
how to make olive oil
Dragging the net to the next tree.
How to make olive oil
Gathering olives into a pile to put in the bucket.
how to make olive oil
Carrying bucket of olives to the truck.
How to make olive oil
Steven pouring the olives into the truck.
how to make olive oil
Cappelli family picking olives.

 

How to make olive oil
The olives going up a conveyor belt to the stone mill.
How to make olive oil
Paul sorting the leaves from the olives before milling.
How to make olive oil
A stone mill crushing the olives.
how to make olive oil
The final product: the best extra virgin olive oil!

 

Do you want to know more about how to make olive oil?  Or have other questions?  Let us know in the comments below.

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Steven
You might think growing up in a small town in Texas wouldn't prepare you to live the Italian lifestyle. But in many ways — the family values, the small town culture, the love of food — is very similar to what you'll find in Italian culture. In fact, I expect it's pretty universal. Having been married to an Italian for 20 years, it's been fun to learn and explore the rich Italian culture and share it with you.

2 COMMENTS

  1. I notice you have organic offered also. Is the oil the same extra vergin as in the big can. What is the main difference? Less spray or different fertilizers or what?
    Also what is the can made of that the one kind comes in?
    Thanks for info.
    Marcy

    • Hi Marcy,

      The organic is oil pressed from the same variety of olives, but any sprays or fertilizers used are all organic. The tin is made of a recyclable food-grade metal. I hope this helps. If you have any more questions, it might faster to email me at Steven [at] villacappelli [dot] com

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