The liquid gold that shaped civilizations for eight millennia
Long before modern industry, olive oil was a cornerstone of global trade, religious ritual, and even ancient medicine. From the temples of Jerusalem to the gyms of Sparta, this versatile oil has served as a symbol of peace, a source of wealth, and a sacred light.
The history of the olive tree, Olea europaea, stretches back to the 8th millennium BC, with early cultivation spreading from the Mediterranean Basin. Archaeological evidence shows that by 6000 BC, olives were being processed into oil in Galilee, and by 2500 BC, trees were established in Crete. The Phoenicians played a vital role in spreading these groves westward, eventually reaching North Africa and the Levant. By the Roman era, the trade had expanded significantly, with the historian Pliny the Elder even praising the excellent, reasonably priced oil of Italy in the 1st century AD.
Beyond the kitchen, olive oil has functioned as a multi-purpose commodity. In ancient Greece, athletes used it to coat their bodies during exercise in the gymnasia. In religious contexts, it holds profound significance: Jewish tradition notes its use as the sole permitted fuel for the seven-branched menorah, while Islamic texts, including the Qur'an, reference the olive as a blessed tree. It has also been utilized in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and even as a component in ancient contraceptive mixtures recommended by Aristotle.
Modern production has evolved from ancient methods—such as squeezing olives in woven mats—to sophisticated centrifugal separation and hydraulic pressing. Today, Spain leads the global market, producing 24% of the world's total in 2022. While the quality of 'extra virgin' oil depends on low free acidity (no more than 0.8%) and favorable harvests, the industry continues to balance traditional flavors with modern stability, using filtration to prevent the enzymatic spoilage that can occur when fine particles remain suspended in the oil.
Source: Olive oil
