Learning to taste olive oil!

Taurino's Olive Farm

I have been to oil tastings before where great bread is cut into small pieces and you dip it into the saucer of oil.   Nothing to it, si?  
After visiting Azienda Agricola Taurino and meeting Donato Taurino and Valentino Valzano I have a NEW appreciation for the benefits, properties and true beauty of Olive oil.


As you drive the few miles (11 km) north from Lecce, the land becomes green with trees and as you approach the olive 'farm' the trees stand end to end for miles.   More than 60,000 olive trees sway in the winter wind today.  They are storing their energy for the wonderful oil they will produce next year.

The hectors and hectors of olive trees, a sea of green

olives are picked in the traditional way, shaken from the tree and  carried into the pressing facility

sorted, washed

olives go into the pressing machines

Oil can have a yellow or green tint

Oil is stored in the lower level at the correct temperature in HUGE vats.   It is pumped to the room where each bottle of oil is filled by HAND t insure complete quality.

The many types of oil can be purchased in the shop as well as complementary products.    I could have spent the entire day in this delightful location.

Now you too can experience all this.  Yltour can arrange a visit to the oil farm, a picnic in the fields, you can also learn how to care for your own olive trees at home:  pruning, proper nutrition, pruning, etc.

MY FAVORITE PART IS I CAN ADOPT AN OLIVE TREE.

I WILL SPONSOR A TREE, VISIT TO PICK THE OLIVES AND PRESS MY OWN OIL.

My father would be so proud to own a tree in Puglia.