If the Olive Trees knew the hands that planted them,
Their Oil would become Tears
Mahmoud Darwish
Their Oil would become Tears
Mahmoud Darwish
The olive tree is a hugely important cultural symbol for Palestinians. Not only is the olive branch
seen as a symbol of peace and hope, but the olive tree is a symbol of Palestinian identity and
heritage. Palestinians have grown and farmed olives for centuries and these silver-green leafed
trees are part of the landscape. Olives are part of the diet, a staple ingredient and a source of
wealth and cornerstone of Palestinian farming industry. It is estimated that the olive farming
industry supports the livelihoods of around 80,000 families in the West Bank alone.
seen as a symbol of peace and hope, but the olive tree is a symbol of Palestinian identity and
heritage. Palestinians have grown and farmed olives for centuries and these silver-green leafed
trees are part of the landscape. Olives are part of the diet, a staple ingredient and a source of
wealth and cornerstone of Palestinian farming industry. It is estimated that the olive farming
industry supports the livelihoods of around 80,000 families in the West Bank alone.
In this section we invite you to watch a short film about the Nablus Soap Factory and olive soap production, learn about one of the oldest olive trees in the world, read Dima Sharif's informative piece on terroir and check out an olive brining recipe.
The Al Badawi tree is one of a handful of olive trees in the eastern Mediterranean that are more than 2,000 years old.
In 2010, two teams, one from Italy and another from Japan, carbon-dated
Al Badawi.
Al Badawi.
They came up with an age range of 3,000 to 5,500 years old
Olive Oil, The Story of Terroir
by Dima Sharif
by Dima Sharif
Allow me to tell you a little bit about, what to me is, one of the most Divine of liquids, Olive Oil.
Olive oil, like wine, is all about the terroir. The olive tree is one that is rooted in the land to which it belongs. This is beyond just the physical root that every plant has, here, the rootedness means its produce of olives and eventually oil are influenced in aroma, flavour and overall characteristic by its environment.
Only when we go back to land do we understand food.
Only then do we cook exceptionally outstanding food.
Only then do we cook exceptionally outstanding food.
Continue reading: Olive Oil, The Story of Terroir
