Olive Tree

The olive tree is presumed to originate from Asia Minor and Syria, as the wild olive tree has been widespread in this region since ancient times, forming forests on the southern coast of Asia Minor. It was here that the Phoenicians began to cultivate it, discovering its great properties, for which they gave it the special name ἔλαια, which the Latins rendered as "olea."

Since ancient times, it has been used for food. Olives, its fruits, are used for extracting olive oil and, to a lesser extent, for direct consumption in food. However, due to the bitter taste caused by the content of polyphenols when freshly harvested, the use of olives as fruits in food requires specific treatments aimed at debittering (reducing bitter principles), achieved through various methods. The olive tree plays valuable environmental roles in mitigating climate change. It belongs to the family Oleaceae and the genus Olea.