When you think of olive oil, your mind tends to wander to Tuscany – a faraway place full of romance, history and beautiful skin. But for us, and many Americans, this promise land is in our front yard. We have 30-year-old olive trees lining our driveway that, when in bloom, help keep our honey bees fed with pollen.
We are lucky to live in a region where olive oil artisans are making their mark on American production. It’s through these artisans that we’ve come to learn about the beauty of the oil – from the planting of the trees and the importance of soil nutrients to the harvesting and pressing (or crushing) of the olives.
Olive oil helps reduce cholesterol and heart problems, and it boosts metabolism and digestion. It can also lower stress hormones. But our favorite benefit that it offers is its antioxidant and moisturizing properties, which help keep skin beautifully fed.
Since our move to the Central Coast/Paso Robles region of California, our pantry is never without this versatile oil, and neither is our lab. For cooking, we love combining it with local artisan vinegars to make awesome salad dressings.
For our skin care products, we love combining it with other rich emollients, such as beeswax, almond oil and shea butter, to keep skin supple and help reduce those fine lines as we age (at 60, I need all the help I can get!). It helps to leave skin smooth and touchable – just as we like it!
Fun facts about olive oil:
- Our favorite olive oil is made by The Groves at 41 – a local business!
- Olive pumice, the crushed seeds and skins left after the pressing, can be used as a body scrub and to feed livestock.
Olive oil is the first ingredient in our Honey Healing Stick, Honey Healing Lip Goo, and Ache & Pain Relief Honey Stick.
