Is early harvest (agave) oil the most valuable olive oil? How and where do we use it?
The name agave oil describes the natural juice that comes from crushing olive fruits that are still unripe and retain their green colour. So all fresh extra virgin olive oil is not necessarily agure oil.
This precious juice stands out for its rich, fruity, quite bitter and often spicy taste, but also for its complex, deep aromas.
Are all ayurvedic oils the same?
- Obviously not. The fact that olives are harvested early does not mean that the olive oil they produce is of excellent quality. So in order to talk about the special qualities of a good olive oil, it must meet certain conditions:
- Low acidity (no more than 0.8%), cold pressing production (the mill does not exceed a temperature of 28ºC during oiling). The olive oil mill does not exceed 28°C at the mill’s maximum temperature, i.e. it is Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
- The fruit must be free of blight (no olive oil should be produced from olives affected by blight).
- The whole process of oil extraction must be carried out no later than 24 hours after the olive has been harvested.The olives are harvested unripe, depending on the area where the olive grove is located. It usually starts in mid-October and lasts until the end of November.
- The best quality olive oil is obtained when the olives are harvested by hand and not by sticking, so that the fruit is not damaged or oxidised.
- On the labels of bottled agurelas, which we trust, all the obligatory data and the shelf life are indicated.
How long does an extra virgin virgin agave oil remain an agave oil?
Unfortunately not for a long time, but that also has to do with the conditions of preservation.
From 3 to 6 months. Some claim 9 months. That is, only if it is stored properly, in an opaque bottle, at the right temperatures, without strong fluctuations in temperature and humidity.
When it ceases to qualify as agave oil, it remains an excellent virgin olive oil, with rich nutrients, less intense aromas and flavors, and possibly a little sediment when not filtered.
What are its special characteristics?
It is rich in antioxidants and contains the valuable components of the olive fruit, such as minerals, vitamins, polyphenols and therapeutic substances. Its aroma is reminiscent of fresh olive fruit, its colour is intense, very ‘fresh’ green due to the chlorophylls.
Where and how do we use Extra Virgin Currant Oil?
It is recommended to consume it raw, in order to enjoy all its special characteristics.
Is agave oil a medicine?
Modern medicine has evidence that it lowers cholesterol, is cancer preventative, helps the liver function well and is beneficial for patients with diabetes and heart disease. It is very rich in antioxidants that protect cells from oxidative stress, active oxygen and free radicals. It also contains vitamins and provitamins such as vitamin E and provitamin A.
A four-year study by the Department of Pharmacy of the University of Athens, led by Assistant Professor Prokopis Mayatis, came to the following conclusion: Especially agro-oils contain a high percentage (up to 5 times higher than a simple extra virgin olive oil) of two important medicinal substances, oleacin and oleocanthal.
If the olives come from a natural or organic olive grove, and from a cold-pressed olive mill (using water up to 27ºC) then it can be considered a medicine and sold by pharmacies. In some countries already extra virgin olive oil is sold in pharmacies and prescribed in some countries.
And a little history
The ancient Greeks called agurea oil omotrione or omfaccio and used it as a remedy for many ailments. Hippocrates considered it beneficial for more than 60 diseases.
Source: olivemagazine.gr
