History of the Oil

Olive oil was commonly used in the Mediterranean area as well as in the land of Egypt from as far back as 5,000 BC. It was used to add flavor to foods and for maintaining health. Throughout the centuries, olive presses spread from North Africa to Persia. Olive presses were also commonplace along the Nile region. Olive oil production can be traced back to the Ebla, the ancient city-state located in the Eastern Mediterranean. Olive oil was an essential commodity with the Egyptians. The Egyptians would trade with Syria, Crete, and Canaan for the highly desired oil. A tomb was discovered with containers of olive oil dating back 4,000 years.

A natural resource of life and beauty, olive oil played an important part in the lives of ancient cultures. During ancient Greek times, olive oil was used to slow down the process of hair loss and to reduce wrinkles. It was also an essential part of hygiene. Ancient Greeks used olive oil as a fragrance by creating a perfume or fragrance by mixing the olive oil with sweet smelling plants and herbs. The Greeks passed along their knowledge of olive oil to the ancient Romans. As time unfolded, olive oil became a vital ingredient in a variety of cosmetics, soaps, moisturizers and soaps. The fats found in olive oil have been found to protect the skin from damage done by the sun and other pollutants found in the environment.

There have been over 750 million olive trees grown throughout the world with approximately ninety-five percent of the olive trees being grown in the Mediterranean region. It, a vegetable oil, is produced by crushing the olives. The United States, Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Syria, Turkey, France, and Tunisia are the chief olive oil producers in the world.