Niki's Cucina: Mela - The Garden

Over 5,000 years ago oil was being extracted from olives in the Eastern Mediterranean. The olive tree is native to the mediterranean basin. Homer called it "liquid gold". Greek athletes ritually rubbed it all over their bodies. Olive oil has been more than mere food for the people of the Mediterranean: it has been medicinal, magical, an endless source of fascination and wonder and the fountain of great wealth and power. The tree is extremely hardy and its useful lifespan can be measured in centuries. Olive oil's importance in ancient economies is undeniable.