Olive Oil Treats on a Sunday Afternoon

Olive oil at the 2010 VerdeOro fair in Rosignano MarittimoLast year's VerdeOro Olive Oil event was so much fun that we just had to go back again for the 2010 edition. Despite a biting wind that pursued us all afternoon, the sun shone brightly over Rosignano Marittimo and the scene was chilly but cheerful.

Olive Oil Tasting

Years ago, when I first came to Italy, I didn't understand the fuss about tasting olive oil. Sampling pieces of bread drizzled with Tuscan Extra Virgin didn't really appeal to me. But in those days I still had a lot to learn!

Now, I am the first in line for those oil-soaked morsels and you might even hear me using adjectives like 'peppery', 'pungent', and 'fruity' to describe the different flavours.  I may be in danger of becoming an olive oil snob, if there is such a thing!

There is nothing snobbish about these village fairs though. They are a celebration of the Italian way of life, of the wonderful Tuscan food and wine. A family affair with entertainment and pizza for the kids, and an opportunity to get to know not only the numerous local olive oil producers, but also a number of other companies that produce some appealing olive oil products.

Olive Oil in Cosmetics

Prima Spremitura, the range of Tuscan Olive Oil products from Toscana IdeaAt the Idea Toscana stand, I spoke to Antonio Pieri whose company's range of natural cosmetics - called Prima Spremitura - is made with unadulterated extra virgin Tuscan olive oil.  I was impressed with the quality of the products, in particular the hand cream with its lovely herby fragrance, and I love their packaging with its beautiful olive design. Antonio told me about their new organic range, which will be available in the very near future.

All in all, another successful olive oil event with lots to taste, do and see. And while we wait for next year's VerdeOro, I am keen to visit some of the olive oil producers I met at the fair in the Province of Livorno for direct supplies of this essential ingredient.

To see more photos of this and last year's VerdeOro fair, click here

For Further Information:

about olive oil and related products (page still under construction)

Where to find Idea Toscana olive oil products in Livorno:
Il Mercatino Americano - Il Toscano, stand number 21.
Biotipicità - via Lopez 26, Livorno - Tel. 0586 814204

A selection of Olive Oil Producers in Livorno Province:

Antonio Tringali  - Casanuova, Castagneto Carduci, www.tringalipro.it
De Santis, Castiglioncello, www.agriturismodesantis.it
Il Cavallino, Bibbona, www.ilcavallino.it
L'Olio dei Paoli, Campiglia Marittima, l-olio@hotmail.it
Molino a Vento, Rosignano Marittimo, frantoio06@alice.it
Poggio ai Santi, San Vincenzo, www.poggioaisanti.it