It might be hard to belive that olive can be grown in malaysia but the fact is olive is managable in malaysia.My father has planted an olive tree and it is still thriving until now.Some people might not know olive as they might not have seen it before.The scientific name of olive is olea europaea.It is a long lived,evergreen trees(up to 10 m)with narrow leaves in opposite pairs .It produces small white flowers.There are two colours of olive fruits which are black and green.
ORIGIN AND HISTORY
Mediterranean region and western Asia.Olive is an ancient cultigen with a long history of use by the Assyrians,Egyptians,Greeks,Romans,Turks and Palestinians(with several Biblical reference-the leaves are an ancient sign of peace and goodwill).The production of olives and especially olive oil is a massive industry, still centred in the Mediterranean region but rapidly expanding to other temperate parts of the world (Africa,Australia,South America and California in the USA)
PARTS USED
The green or ripe fruits (table olives) or the oil obtained from the fruit pulp
(olive oil)
CULTIVATION AND HARVESTING
Olives are propogated from seeds or by grafting.The fruits are too bitter
to eat and have to be processed to make them edible.
Green olives are first treated with lye to neutralise the bitter taste,
while black olives require no such pretreatment.
Fruits of oil cultivars contain up to 40% oil and are cold
pressed.The first pressing is referred to as "extra virgin" or virgin-these oils retain
the flavour of the olives,while refined oils have all the smells and flavours.
USES AND PROPERTIES
Olives can be stuffed
with red peppers,onions or nuts and have numerous uses as snack food and ingredient of savoury dishes.Olive oil is a typical of southern European cooking but has become popular all over the world as premier cooking oil and salad oil.The oil can also be used to treat certain disease and makes the skin smooth when it is been used.
NUTRITIONAL VALUE
Olives have the highest energy yield of all fruits (up to 200 kcal per 100 g) and are rich in minerals (calcium,potassium)and vitamins.The oil is monosaturated,with high levels of oleic acid.
