The olive tree is an ancient species, dating from well before the Christian era (2,000 BC), well before it was introduced to North Africa by the Romans. I won’t waste anyone’s time with a detailed list of the health benefits associated with olives and olive oil, because such knowledge is now common. I shall simply add that the medical professions continues to find new benefits associated with olive products, above and beyond those traditionally associated with lowering cholesterol and preventing arteriosclerosis. According to local lore, the olive is also effective against intestinal parasites, has a laxative function, has a sedative effect, and is antiseptic as well as diuretic,

As far as other uses for olives and olive wood are concerned, its oil is used in natural soaps, and its beautifully grained wood is much appreciated by wood workers and artisans of all types. Considered divine since it’s mentioned in the Koran, the olive tree is also a universal symbol of peace and freedom.
When I was a child, my mother would put a small olive twig in her hair for the scent. Olive oil is also used to perfume, massage, and keep the scalp and skin healthy, and is especially comforting to little boys who are ill or tired.

In the Kairouanese production, the best oils are “Oueslati” (“Oueslatia”), and “El hor” (“El Ala”), produced from olive groves going back to Roman times. The oil called “Ennoudhouh” is manually pressed, using neither olive mill nor centrifuge, and is becoming increasingly popular due to its reputed medicinal qualities.

In 2004 the olive harvest was 57,000 tons (which results in ca. 11,500 liters of oil). In 2003 the harvest, 280,000 t constituted 40-50% of the national production. The harvest in 2003 was 150,000 tons, of which 50,000 tons are destined for the local market (the olive tree gives fruit every other year). The rest is exported to the USA and Europe; the largest part, however, transits through Italy where it is rebottled, relabeled and re-exported.

The olive tree only produces between its 8th and 100th year. Older than that, it is decorative and gives shade. The circumference of an olive tree can be as high as seven meters; a tree expands 40 – 50 cm each one hundred years. To determine the age of an olive tree, as with other trees, dendrochronology is used (the enumeration of the number of layers or circles within the trunk).

Finally, the governorship of Kairouan contains 5,470,000 olive trees of which 4,500,000 are productive. The city has 108 oil plants, 47 supper presses, 29 traditional presses, and 27 continuous conveyer presses.

Virgin olive oil has five different qualities depending upon the acidic content :

It has three taste criteria :

Mohamed Rebai
info@kairouan.org