Just a short note to say that finally I have the internet hooked up at our house, so will be able to do a better job of updating this blog. Up until now, I could only access the internet by going into Roy's work. It's been a rather challenging 6 weeks ... amazing how fast we become accustomed to our "technical toys". I'll get some updated photos and post them this weekend.
In the meantime, check out this link:
Medolea Olive Grove Tour
This was a tour I took with a local group of women last weekend. Tunisians are passionate about their olive oil and we were fortunate to be able to tour an olive grove not far from Tunis. We learned a great deal, not the least of which is how different olive oils can taste region-by-region and year-by-year! We tasted some different "crops" and after some practice could begin to appreciate these subtle differences.
What struck me the most was how, in the past, Tunisian olive oil was all collected together and exported to the undersupplied regions of Spain and Italy. There, the Tunisian olive oil would be further mixed with their product and then shipped to markets as "Mediterranean" olive oil. Thereby loosing the uniqueness one would get by purchasing the product directly from the olive grove. Not a lot different than vineyards mixing their product and exporting mass quantities of similar tasting wine. Tunisia is now trying to take back their industry and allow the individual olive groves to export their product under their own label. This particular grove has already established some connections in Canada (Toronto & Vancouver) and last year's unique "banana" under-toned product can be enjoyed.
