Thursday, January 19, 2006

Morocco's Volubilia named world best olive oil


Volubilia Olive oil from the Meknès-Tafilalet region has been named "The World Best Olive Oil Extra-virgin of the Year", said a communiqué from the National School of Agriculture in Meknès (138Km east of Rabat).

The prize is given by the Italian Guide Extravergine 2006, which awards the world best certified quality olive oils, said the document, noting that the tasting panel had selected 459 olive oils among 3,000 samples from Europe, North Africa, East of the Mediterranean, South Africa and Latin America.

The Guide also set up a top 15 of world olive oils.

Volubilia olive carries more than 200 years of tradition, as can be testified still today by Historical landmark "Volubilis" a few miles away from where this oil is produced.

Volubilis was a Roman settlement constructed on what was probably a Carthaginian city, dating from 3rd century BC. Volubilis was a central administrative city for this part of Roman Africa, responsible for the grain producing in this fertile region, and exports to Rome.

The historical site include remains of the olive oil presses that made Volubilis wealthy. Olive trees grow in the nearby hills - and in profusion throughout much of Morocco - and olives and olive oil are important to the Moroccan diet and the country's economy.

Located at the steps of Middle Atlas –800 meters high–, the olive trees benefit from pure air, rich soil and a temperate and mild climate which confer to Moroccan oil its typical taste. The oil is obtained from best selection of the olives, hand-picked and pressed immediately by a modern temperature controlled system.

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3 comments:

Cat in Rabat ( كات في الرباط) said...

Do you know if it's for sale outside of the Meknes/Fes area?

Anonymous said...

I've seen it in Marjanne and other big stores - so it should be everywhere.

Cat in Rabat ( كات في الرباط) said...

Thanks! will check there.