The Best Olive Oil Products

Olive oil, the liquid gold that narrates the story of the Mediterranean. Imagine being in the middle of an olive grove, where sunlight dances through the leaves, and the air is filled with the scent of freshly harvested fruits. This is where the story of olive oil, our liquid gold, begins.

Olive oil is not just a seasoning or an ingredient we use in the kitchen and add to our dishes; it is a true treasure of the Mediterranean, which has found a significant place in the heart of our culture, health, and beauty since the Roman times.

History and Importance of Olive Oil

It is known that the Romans used it as a natural remedy for various health issues as well as for cosmetics. On this journey through time and space, we will discover how olive oil became an essential ingredient in human life, from ancient civilizations to today’s modern kitchens and cosmetic salons. We inherited this fruit from the Greeks and Romans, who considered the olive tree sacred, and olive oil has become a symbol of abundance, health, and peace.

Extra virgin olive oil in the Mediterranean diet is not just a culinary tradition but also a reflection of deep respect for nature and its gifts that nourish and heal us since ancient times.

Top Olive Oil Products in Nutrition and Cosmetics

Throughout history, the medicinal properties and known nutritional values of this fruit juice from the olive, along with its broad use in the food industry and olive oil in cosmetics, have provided the opportunity for olive oil to be consumed daily. In the following text, we will help you choose and how to recognize real extra virgin olive oil. We will also introduce you to the oils of world-renowned Istrian olive growers and present other olive and olive oil products you can taste, all available in one place at the House of Istrian Olive Oil in Pula.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

When we talk about extra virgin olive oil, we are referring to the essence that enriches every dish. Its rich and authentic flavor, full of antioxidants, is not just a pleasure for the palate but also an elixir for our health. Whether used in salads, marinades, or as a final touch of refinement, it is always the center of attention.

Olive oil has been valued since ancient civilizations for its various properties, in the kitchen, in cosmetics, and for overall human health. In the Mediterranean diet, considered the healthiest way of eating, it is the main source of fat and one of the most important ingredients.

In Istria, we have a large number of world-renowned producers of top-quality extra virgin olive oil. Their oils are characterized by exceptionally rich flavors, and the oil is obtained exclusively through the mechanical processing of fresh olive fruits. This method preserves the natural scents and flavors as well as the high nutritional and health properties. Flavors can range from mild with a pronounced freshness of cut grass to strong spicy and bitter notes, depending on the variety and the moment of olive harvest. Whether you opt for buža, Istrian bjelica, rošinjola, crnica, or another variety, you will not be denied the true enjoyment of real extra virgin olive oil.

Olive oil has also proven to be an excellent addition to the production of various products, sweets, chocolates, brandies, and liqueurs, various cosmetic preparations such as face and body creams, scrubs, etc.

Olive Oil in Face Creams

Beauty coming from nature, olive oil finds its place in the world of beauty, where through face creams, the secret of eternal youth is revealed. Vitamins E, K, and A, which the skin easily absorbs, provide not only hydration and elasticity but also protect our skin from daily harmful effects. The face cream “45 degrees,” made from the processing of olive pomace from Istria with exclusively organic cultivation, represents a unique natural product for deep and intensive care of our face. It also protects and nourishes the skin.

Brandies and Liqueurs

Brandies and liqueurs with a hint of olive are for those with an adventurous spirit, who would like to try something special, and through these products, olive oil reveals its innovative side in the world of brandies and liqueurs. This unique combination offers a completely new dimension of flavors and aromatization, which will surely surprise and delight you. And if you are in Istria, at the olive oil museum in Pula, you will find some of the best Istrian liqueurs and brandies, and of course, the indispensable top-quality Terranino, a liqueur with a rich taste obtained from the blend of Teran black wine and fruity brandy.

In honor of this autochthonous Istrian liqueur, a festival has been held for two consecutive years in Bale. It is an event where you can taste terranino from various Istrian distilleries, whose names are well known beyond the borders of Croatia.

How to Choose and Use Olive Oil Products

Tips for selecting and using the right extra virgin olive oil are crucial steps towards enjoying its benefits. Looking for the “extra virgin” label and checking the harvest date as well as the country of origin can help in making the choice to get the best of what the olive has to offer. Through educational tastings and sampling, you can become a true olive oil sommelier and learn how to recognize flavors and aromas and what to look for on the package label.

In the kitchen, be creative, and in cosmetic rituals, listen to your skin.

More than an ingredient, olive oil is a symbol of tradition, health, and beauty, intertwined in every drop of this wonderful elixir. Through its use, we connect with nature, heritage, and tradition, discovering new ways every day to enrich our lives. In the end, olive oil is not just food or a cosmetic product; it is a story of heritage, community, and love for life, a story that olive oil carries with it and passes down from generation to generation.