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.
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The hectors and hectors of olive trees, a sea of green
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| olives are picked in the traditional way, shaken from the tree and carried into the pressing facility |
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| sorted, washed |
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| olives go into the pressing machines |
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| 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.
