Have you decorated
your house with Christmas yet?
As you make your way to the tasting area, you can't help but notice the beautiful aroma of fresh olives in the air. The tasting area is set up with a long wooden table, lined with small tasting cups and fresh bread to cleanse your palate between tastings. The staff is knowledgeable and passionate about their products, and will take the time to explain the unique characteristics and flavour profiles of each oil.
Have you decorated
your house with Christmas yet?
We chatted with Cass Somas to find out more about this family-owned olive grove that produces some of the highest quality olive oil across Australia.
Harvesting by hand must be a massive process, can you explain a little about the process that you use and why you harvest by hand, are there particular benefits for this process to the olive oil?
We choose to harvest by hand, rather than heavy machinery - which means our harvest takes a lot longer than big commercial producers. However, the more gentle method of harvesting is well worth it, particularly for our table olives. The softer approach preserves the integrity of the fruit, meaning our table olives aren't bruised and soft. It also results in a better oil.
Harvesting by hand must be a massive process, can you explain a little about the process that you use and why you harvest by hand, are there particular benefits for this process to the olive oil?
We choose to harvest by hand, rather than heavy machinery - which means our harvest takes a lot longer than big commercial producers. However, the more gentle method of harvesting is well worth it, particularly for our table olives. The softer approach preserves the integrity of the fruit, meaning our table olives aren't bruised and soft. It also results in a better oil.
Have you decorated
your house with Christmas yet?
There must be many benefits to including olive oil in our daily diet, can you run us through the main benefits at the top of your list?
Extra virgin olive oil is the foundation of the Mediterranean diet. This way of eating has long been believed (and proven to be) linked with a lower risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. True extra virgin olive oil contains a powerful antioxidant, called polyphenols. Our olive oil is independently lab-tested and consistently found to contain some of the highest polyphenol counts in the country. In contrast, supermarket olive oil is typically very low in antioxidants, primarily due to its age - as the health benefits dissipate over time.
We have all found that half bottle of olive oil hiding in the back of the pantry, does olive oil expire? Are there storing suggestions that will prolong the life of your olive oil? Fridge or pantry does it really matter?
Olive oil doesn't go off if it's stored properly, ie) away from heat and direct light. Olive oil is in itself, is a preservative. The only thing that happens over time is the taste begins to mellow - and the level of antioxidants starts to drop.
Extra virgin olive oil is the foundation of the Mediterranean diet. This way of eating has long been believed (and proven to be) linked with a lower risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. True extra virgin olive oil contains a powerful antioxidant, called polyphenols. Our olive oil is independently lab-tested and consistently found to contain some of the highest polyphenol counts in the country. In contrast, supermarket olive oil is typically very low in antioxidants, primarily due to its age - as the health benefits dissipate over time.
We have all found that half bottle of olive oil hiding in the back of the pantry, does olive oil expire? Are there storing suggestions that will prolong the life of your olive oil? Fridge or pantry does it really matter?
Olive oil doesn't go off if it's stored properly, ie) away from heat and direct light. Olive oil is in itself, is a preservative. The only thing that happens over time is the taste begins to mellow - and the level of antioxidants starts to drop.
Have you decorated
your house with Christmas yet?
So what's good for your insides is also good for your outside! Olive oil has amazing skin antioxidant benefits. Can you let us in on this true ‘Beauty Secret’ and what would be your top three Petra EVOO Skin and Hair products to include in your daily beauty regime?
Since ancient times, Extra Virgin Olive Oil has been known for its benefits on skin and hair. There's no better replenishing nourishment than Extra Virgin Olive Oil that contains a high level of beneficial antioxidant polyphenols. Petra EVOO consistently achieves a polyphenol count of 450-500ppm - one of the highest counts in Australia!
We use our Face Wash daily and our Facial Scrub (3 times a week). We follow this with our Serum, then our Facial Moisturiser. During winter we can't live without our Gardeners Hand Cream for those super dry, winter hands.
Since ancient times, Extra Virgin Olive Oil has been known for its benefits on skin and hair. There's no better replenishing nourishment than Extra Virgin Olive Oil that contains a high level of beneficial antioxidant polyphenols. Petra EVOO consistently achieves a polyphenol count of 450-500ppm - one of the highest counts in Australia!
We use our Face Wash daily and our Facial Scrub (3 times a week). We follow this with our Serum, then our Facial Moisturiser. During winter we can't live without our Gardeners Hand Cream for those super dry, winter hands.
Have you decorated
your house with Christmas yet?
You have Early Harvest Oil and Late Harvest Oil what it the difference and how would you use each of these in making one of your favourite dishes?
The olives for our Early Harvest oil are harvested earlier in the season, when the olives are still green and firm. This results in a very grassy, flavourful and rambunctious oil. By the time we harvest the olives for our Late Harvest oil, they've turned brown and have softened. This results in a much more mellow flavour.
Incidentally, the health benefits are the same in both - it's only about flavour. Our favourite use for our Early Harvest has to be dipping bread or dressing salads - something where you want to really taste the oil. Our Late Harvest is perfect for baking or making things such as mayonnaise/caesar salad dressing, where you're not looking for the flavour of the oil to overtake the dish.
Fact or Fiction: If Olive Oil tastes bitter has it gone bad?
Complete fiction. Olive oil actually should have a bitter taste to it. Sometimes it can almost catch you in the back of the throat. This is the flavour of our Early Harvest oil. However we know it's not to everyone's liking, especially if people are used to supermarket olive oils (which are typically very mellow in flavour). Hence we produce our Late Harvest and Premium Blend (a mix of early and late) - the perfect all rounder
The olives for our Early Harvest oil are harvested earlier in the season, when the olives are still green and firm. This results in a very grassy, flavourful and rambunctious oil. By the time we harvest the olives for our Late Harvest oil, they've turned brown and have softened. This results in a much more mellow flavour.
Incidentally, the health benefits are the same in both - it's only about flavour. Our favourite use for our Early Harvest has to be dipping bread or dressing salads - something where you want to really taste the oil. Our Late Harvest is perfect for baking or making things such as mayonnaise/caesar salad dressing, where you're not looking for the flavour of the oil to overtake the dish.
Fact or Fiction: If Olive Oil tastes bitter has it gone bad?
Complete fiction. Olive oil actually should have a bitter taste to it. Sometimes it can almost catch you in the back of the throat. This is the flavour of our Early Harvest oil. However we know it's not to everyone's liking, especially if people are used to supermarket olive oils (which are typically very mellow in flavour). Hence we produce our Late Harvest and Premium Blend (a mix of early and late) - the perfect all rounder
SHOP PETRA'S RANGE ONLINE
Use HUMIDITYPETRA10 at checkout.
Keep an eye on our socials for our pampering giveaway with Petra.
