EVOO: Tuscany’s Green Gold

Tuscany’s extra virgin olive oil is also known as “green gold”, an apt descriptor of the verdant and vibrant oil that adds a peppery bite to just about every dish that appears on the tables of Tuscan residents and restaurants. If you are fortunate enough to visit Italy during the autumn months when the olives are harvested (typically October through November, depending on altitude and latitude), you can taste for yourself the freshest possible product, referred to as olio nuovo, or new oil. The best experience will result from taking an olive oil tour in Tuscany.

Transfers from Florence to one of the many countryside olive farms enables tourists to experience the process of olive oil production from start to finish, from the life cycle of the the silver-leafed trees to the dining table (which may well be made with olive wood!). As an added benefit, many olive tree groves are located adjacent to vineyards, so their processing facilities make it possible to indulge in two of the most recognizable stars of the Mediterranean diet: olive oil and wine.

Italians use olive oil for much more than cooking. They drizzle it on top of vegetables, salads, soups, grilled meats, pasta dishes and even pizza for an extra dose of flavor and flavonoids. The latter contributes health benefits through the antioxidant effects of freshly pressed olives. The polyphenols in olive oil are highest when the oil is deep in color and spicy in flavor. Indeed, your first sip of “green gold” might make you cough as if sipping a syrup of pepper. To protect those polyphenols, many containers of olive oil are made of thick, dark glass, and the very best bottles will have a “best by” date that will be no more than two years from the date of bottling.

During a guided tour of an olive oil farm or factory, guests can compare the appearance and flavors of many different oils, similar to a wine tasting. Doing so is the best way to decide for yourself which is your favorite, and which you will want to take home with you at the end of your trip. Of course, since the health benefits are highest with the freshest product, you may just have to schedule biannual visits to Italy to stay stocked with the Tuscany’s “green gold”.

An olive oil tour in Tuscany is the ideal way to indulge your senses and to learn something about one of the most important aspects of the local culture and economy.

Touring an olive oil production facility will seldom take more than a few hours, even if you stay to enjoy lunch prepared with the olio nuovo. Guided tours and transfers in Tuscany make it an easy option for visitors flying into Florence who want to maximize their time in the agriculturally rich region.