Olive oil in the Maltese islands

From amber yellow to emerald green, olive oil comes in many shades and hues. Sometimes known as ‘liquid gold’, it has been a staple in our diets for time immemorial – around 400 generations, to be exact.

The History

Indigenous to the Mediterranean region, the olive tree has played a crucial role in our diets and nourishment for around 10,000 years. It is believed, in fact, that we've picked olives from trees since the early Neolithic period, and that we started extracting this fruit’s oil some 8,000 years ago. Everyone from the Grecians to the Israelites to the Romans and the Minoans cultivated and consumed olives, and all of these milked them for their delicious and wholesome juices.

This age old tradition that pre-dates written history has survived the test of time, and nowadays, olive oil is a favourite among all the people of the world, be they Mediterranean or not. So much so, that the global production of olive oil is of over 3,200,000 tonnes per year; and it is assumed that close to 100 per cent of that is consumed each year as well.

Fun Facts About Olive Oil

• Olive oil’s renowned health properties and aromas are due to their plant-based antioxidants called ‘polyphenols’. These are believed to be both anti-carcinogenic and anti-aging.

• We all know that some red wines get better with age, but olive oil is a product best consumed as fresh as possible. For this reason, you should always check its harvest date.

• It should be stored in cool, dark places with the lid firmly in place as light, heat and oxygen can destroy its chemical compound. In fact, the fridge is one of the best places to preserve its taste, colour and nutritive elements. It may solidify, but, once taken out, it will go back to being a liquid within a few minutes.

• The notion that extra virgin olive oil (evoo) should never be heated or used for cooking is not supported by research. However one should not use EVOO for frying. During our EVOO experiences we examine this fact in more detail and discuss from where this myth originated.

• While unfiltered olive oil may look less appetising – muddy, even – it is actually much tastier and much more nutritious than its filtered counterpart.

• No two harvests are the same, so no two batches of olive oil can ever taste the same.

• A certain degree of bitterness is required to ensure that the olive oil is genuine.

• In tasting sessions, different people may taste the same olive oil differently; that is why the aroma is given more importance.

• Proper, unfiltered olive oil contains natural fats, meaning it has a high-calorific value – but, don’t worry, they’re good fats!

Extra virgin olive oil can be easily coupled to other local ingredients

Merill & Olive Oil

Olive oil was one of the first products we discovered at Merill. This was no coincidence, however, as two of the first people we teamed up with were Charlie and Ray Vella, the hard-working farmers and owners of tan-Nixxiegha Olive Grove.

Over the years, we have made it our mission to support the farmers in our rural network, particularly those whose work is eco-friendly, thanks to the EU LEADER funded Project. This training consists of pest control and management, olive oil appreciation, and health and safety regulations when working around trees, among many others.

As part of our on-going work, we also support researchers who are rediscovering old Maltese varieties and studying their unique properties; and we help create awareness about the benefits of choosing local and unaltered food products. 

What We Offer

Should you wish to organise an Olive Oil Tasting session to find out what real, unfiltered olive oil tastes like, feel free to get in touch with us.

 

We have:

• Basic Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Tasting – Get to grips with olive oil with a simple-yet-informative tour of the olive grove – served with delicious Maltese bread, of course! Organise a private group or join other eco-guests on our regular shared experiences.

• Professional Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Tasting – As one of newest ventures, this offers small groups the chance to sit down to a glorious olive oil tasting session that will challenge everything you think you know about the taste and smell of good olive oil.

• Bottled Extra-Virgin Olive Oil - Bottled liquid goodness that’s of a guaranteed quality and origin.

written by WriteMeAnything.com

For more information on Merill or our Olive Oil Tasting sessions, why not drop us a line at info@merill.com or call us on +356 9944 3118? 

Extra Virgin Olive Oil Experience

Shared tour

Every Tuesday!

Tan-Nixxiegha Olive Grove

At the limits of Mgarr lies a path that is lined with the most mouth-watering of scents. Take it, and you will soon discover the majestic-yet-subdued beauty of the Tan-Nixxiegha Olive Grove, a haven for indigenous and endemic flora that has found a home amid the rugged landscape.

It is hard to believe that, not very long ago, the patch of land that makes up the Tan-Nixxiegha Olive Grove was derelict and in ruins. The rubble walls had been damaged for years, leaving much of the soil to the mercy of the elements, the flora had been replaced by weeds, and it all just seemed like another stretch of uncultivated land.

What Happened Then?

Thankfully, two amazing farmers called Charlie and Ray bought this piece of agricultural land; and, through their hard work and determination, they turned it into their very own Garden of Eden.  They restored the rubble walls and returned the grove to its terraced past, they planted windbreak trees to provide shelter to the then newly-planted olive trees, and allowed rosemary bushes and endemic plants to grow, thus providing a safe haven to many species of birds and insects.

Since then, the olive trees have grown strong and now yield olives that make some of the tastiest olive oil in the country. Tan-Nixxiegha has also been opened to be public, allowing many to catch their first glance of the Widnet il-Bahar (Malta’s national plant), to smell the scent of wild thyme and rosemary, and to be left breathless by the stunning views of the countryside that surround it.

How is Merill Involved?

Tan-Nixxiegha was one of the first places that became part of the Merill Rural Network and, since 2011, we have brought many local and foreign groups to this ‘beautiful’ and ‘friendly’ grove – as the comments and mentions on TripAdvisor put it.

Over the years, the range of things you can do at Tan-Nixxiegha has doubled, and we now offer:

Tasting Sessions – where you can sample the deliciousness of fresh Maltese produce, including extra virgin olive oil, wine and jams.

A Nature Tour – where you can see and smell the countryside like never before and become familiar with the many endemic types of flora that add to the natural beauty of the grove.

Sales of Local Produce – which is just what it says on the tin! Visit us to buy fresh and delicious produce, including estate-fresh, cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil produced by Charlie and Ray themselves. Limited quantities are available, but they are incredibly high in quality.

written by WriteMeAnything.com 

Would you like to organise a scrumptious tasting session or a nature tour at the Tan-Nixxiegha Olive Grove? Then drop us a line at info@merill.com.mt or call us on +356 9944 3118.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil Experience

Shared tour

Every Tuesday!