A Short History on Olive Oil

The Beginnings: Ancient Civilizations and the Mediterranean Roots

The history of olive oil dates back at least 6,000 years to the ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean. The olive tree, Olea europaea, is believed to have originated in the region around present-day Turkey, Syria, and Palestine. Early evidence of olive oil production can be traced to the Minoan civilization on the island of Crete, where olive oil was used in religious rituals, for medicinal purposes, and as a food source.

The ancient Egyptians also valued olive oil, using it not only for cooking and cosmetics but also for religious offerings and embalming the dead. In fact, olive oil was so important that it was found in tombs, including that of the famous Pharaoh Tutankhamun.