Extra Virginity facts for kids
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| Author | Tom Mueller |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Olive oil |
| Publisher | W.W. Norton & Company |
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Publication date
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2011 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 238 |
| ISBN | 0393070212 |
| OCLC | 780954413 |
| 664.362 | |
| LC Class | TP683 .M84 2011 |
Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil is a non-fiction book written by American author Tom Mueller in 2011. This book takes readers on a journey through the fascinating world of olive oil. It covers the long history of olive oil, including its uses in cooking, religious traditions, and even for beauty.
The book also looks at the modern olive oil industry. It explains that sometimes, companies might try to sell fake or low-quality olive oil as "extra virgin." However, Extra Virginity also shares stories of people who are working hard to stop these dishonest practices. These individuals, from olive growers to government officials, want to make sure everyone can enjoy real, high-quality extra virgin olive oil. The book even includes helpful advice for you to choose good olive oil when you go shopping.
Contents
Exploring the World of Olive Oil
What Makes Olive Oil "Extra Virgin"?
The book begins by showing how olive oil experts taste different oils. They are looking for specific qualities. There are 16 official problems that can stop an olive oil from being called "extra virgin." If an oil has any of these problems, it means it's not the highest quality. The book then explains how some lower-quality oils are sometimes changed with chemicals and sold as if they were extra virgin.
Olive Oil in Ancient Times
Extra Virginity also teaches us about how important olive oil was in ancient times. People used it for many things, like in cosmetics, for bathing, and even as a lubricant.
Mueller describes an old archaeological site on the island of Cyprus. Here, an ancient olive oil press was found in the middle of a large industrial area. Experts think the oil was used throughout this complex for different tasks. This included making perfume and weaving fabrics. One archaeologist even said that olive oil was as important to the ancient world as petroleum (oil) is to our world today.
Mueller also visits Monte Testaccio in Rome. This is a huge hill made of broken pieces of ancient clay jars called amphorae. These jars had special labels called tituli picti. These labels told people where the olive oil came from, how good it was, and who sold it.
The Modern Olive Oil Industry
The book also explores how olive oil is made and sold today. Mueller visits a large factory that processes olive oil. He also meets independent olive growers in places like Apulia (Italy), Cyprus, and California. He even visits a monastery in Australia that makes its own olive oil.
While the book points out problems with some big international olive oil companies and how governments regulate them, Mueller is hopeful. He believes that more people buying olive oil in places like Australia and the United States will help. He thinks this will lead to a return of truly good extra virgin olive oil. It could be like how small, local breweries and fine wine became popular again.
