The Olive Tree

At the bottom of my garden, which lies in the Axarquia region of Andalusia, is a track that leads to Lake Vinuela. At the side of this track is an Olive tree that must be hundreds of years old. Its trunk, gnarled and twisted like an old mooring rope appears to be growing out of a huge rock. If this tree could talk, it would entertain you for hours. It was there long before the man-made lake appeared, and I suspect it will still be there when I have left this mortal coil.

This morning as I walked past the tree and bid good morning to it, as I often do, I began to think about Olive Trees in general, and the way they have lived alongside man for eons. Everything about the versatile Olive tree is useful; its fruit is enjoyed worldwide, the oil squeezed from its fruit is in almost every kitchen, and was once used to anoint kings and athletes in ancient Greece. The oil can also be burned in lamps to provide light. Its branches and leaves are a symbol of peace, yet were used to crown the victors of bloody wars. Tutankhamen had olive leaves in his tomb. The tree also gives us olive wood, the dense hardwood that's so rich when carved and polished. How satisfying it is to handle a bowl made from Olive wood. I've even seen fabulous Olive wood guitars. The Olive stone is not wasted; it can be collected, and indeed is, to provide fuel for pellet fed stoves.

It is said that the Olive tree came from Asia Minor to the Mediterranean as long ago as 6,000 years. It was grown on the island of Crete in 3,000 BC. If there is an older cultivated tree in the world, I'd like to hear about it. The ancient Greeks and the Romans loved it, and as Rome grew, so did the domain of the Olive tree, in fact The Romans considered those who used animal fats instead of olive oil in their diet as barbarians. There are specimens on the Mount of Olives over 2,000 years old; what a tale they could tell. Hippocrates, the founder of medicine, considered a daily spoonful of Olive oil to be beneficial, and there are people still following his example today. Just think how many times the Olive Tree is mentioned in The Bible and The Quran.

These days, the Olive is the most extensively cultivated fruit crop in the world, with a more than 300% increase in cultivated area in the last half century. The biggest producers of Olives are the Spanish, who produce more than twice that of the Italians. Greece comes in third with Turkey fourth, closely followed by Syria, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, Portugal and Lebanon. Quite a Mediterranean influence there don't you think?

The fruit is harvested by shaking the branches. I've seen this done in this area both manually and also by a machine that shakes the living daylights out of the tree, but it doesn't seem to do it any harm. They fall into Olive nets that have been placed around the base of the tree. Usually they are taken to the local cooperative to be pressed.

So the next time you're on holiday in the med, sitting at the bar enjoying a Gin and Tonic with a plate of Olives, spare a thought for the worldly wise Olive Tree, and when you're strolling through countryside with heat of the sun on your back, stop and have a word with the grand old man that is the Olive Tree.