Palermo (gro) The Sicilians swear by their “liquid gold”, their own olive oil. Since 2007, this is also publicly celebrated and demonstrated once a year, with an event lasting several days under the motto “L`Isola del Tesolio”, where “Tesolio” is a made-up word, formed from Tesoro (treasure) and Olio (oil). The tenth installment of this manifestation will take place in mid-September at the hotel “La Torre” in the district of Mondello. In Sicily, about 50,000 tons of first quality olive oil (Olio extra virgine di oliva siciliano) are produced per year. Most of it is consumed by the Sicilians themselves, only a tenth of it is exported.
Meeting place at the Sicilian Copacabana.
The hotel “La Torre” is located at the western end of the Palermitan Copacabana, as the fine sandy semicircle of the famous summer resort at the northwestern tip of the island’s capital is fondly called. From September 16 to 17, this picturesque “La Torre” nestled against Capo Gallo will be the meeting place for three days of producers, traders and journalists involved with Sicilian olive oil, the island’s very special treasure. If you are a tourist visitor to Sicily and are interested in this event, you should definitely dare to drop by “La Torre” during the three days in mid-September and be surprised by the proverbial hospitality of the Sicilians.
Just ask for good, home-pressed olive oil.
The manifestation in mid-September in Mondello is organized by olive oil producers who have joined under the seal “IGP Sicilia”. IGP stands for “Protected Geographical Origin” (Indicatione Geografica Protetta). Association work is quite meaningful in an area-wise very poor country, where for little money also inferior olive oil comes into the stores, produced with mostly little gentle procedures from “olives of the Mediterranean area”. Who travels in Sicily through the country, is not dependent on cheap supermarkets. Even in small towns, for example in San Vito Lo Capo or near Castellammare del Golfo in the province of Trapani, in the villages of the Madonie above Celalù, in the interior or in the deep southeast of the island, one is usually very quickly called a private olive oil producer, who then also promptly comes up with “the best olive oil in Sicily”.
At Barbera in Palermo
Who is not sure when tasting on site or has little experience with olive oil, can stick to established producers. For example, to the oil mill Barbera in via Emerico Amari 58 in Palermo, not far from the port (the road goes from piazza Castelnuovo/Politeama straight down to the sea). There, where actually only wholesalers stop by, every curious person from abroad (please ring the bell!) is patiently and kindly advised – and supplied with wonderful olive oils. And that at moderate prices. Whereby it should be noted that Manfredi Barbera, who presides over the company founded in 1884 in the fourth generation as senior boss, has never offered the quality of his multiple award-winning olive oil products at exorbitant prices .
Olive oil and social commitment .
Typical of Manfredi Barbera is his social commitment. Just over a year ago, he launched a new, particularly strong but mild-tasting Sicilian olive oil under the name “Olio per il Pace”. After all, the olive branch has always been a symbol of peace. And when Manfredi Barbera was asked how he managed to bring together so many good harvests for his olive oil every year, he said: “Per fare un olio come il mio è necessario prima scegliere gli uomini, poi i terreni e poi le olive”. In German: “To make an olive oil like mine it is necessary first to bring together the right people, secondly the right terroir and finally the right olives” . Image: Giornale di Sicilia (GdS).
See also www.oliobarbera.it