Why December Is a Great Time for Fresh Mediterranean Olive Oil

December means something very different depending on where you are in the world.

In Australia, it means summer, Christmas entertaining and warm-weather food.

Across the Mediterranean, however, December comes just after one of the most important moments in the olive oil calendar: the annual olive harvest.

That seasonal contrast makes December one of the most interesting times of year for Australian olive oil lovers.

It is when freshly produced Northern Hemisphere harvest olive oil begins making its way from Mediterranean groves and mills towards kitchens on the other side of the world.

The Mediterranean Harvest Happens Later

Australia's olive harvest takes place earlier in the calendar year because our seasons are opposite to Europe.

By the time Australians are preparing for Christmas, growers across Italy and other Mediterranean regions have only recently completed or are finishing their harvest.

This means a completely new crop of olive oil is becoming available.

Freshly produced olive oil can offer aromas and flavours that are often more vivid than those of older oils.

Depending on the olive variety, you may notice fresh grass, herbs, tomato leaf, green almond, artichoke or a pronounced peppery finish.

Why December Timing Matters

By December, Australian-produced olive oil from the year's Southern Hemisphere harvest has already had several months to mature.

At the same time, Mediterranean oil may be only weeks or months from harvest.

That makes Northern Hemisphere harvest olive oil a natural way to follow freshness into the Australian summer.

For Olio Nuovo, this is one of the biggest advantages of working around two harvest seasons rather than viewing olive oil as a single annual product.

Fresh Oil Meets Summer Food

December is also one of the best times to use fresh olive oil because Australian produce is ideal for simple Mediterranean-style cooking.

Think:

• ripe tomatoes

• grilled zucchini and eggplant

• seafood

• fresh salads

• bread

• basil

• pasta

• beans

• cheeses

• grilled meats

Fresh olive oil can tie all of these ingredients together.

It does not need to be used in complicated recipes.

Often, the best approach is to let the oil become part of the flavour of the dish.

A Perfect Christmas Table Ingredient

Christmas food in Australia is often lighter than a traditional Northern Hemisphere Christmas meal.

Seafood, salads and grilled vegetables feature heavily.

That makes quality extra virgin olive oil especially useful.

A fresh drizzle over prawns, tomatoes, grilled fish or vegetables can add richness and aroma without making the food feel heavy.

It can also be used as the base for dressings, marinades and simple dipping plates.

A Seasonal Gift With a Story

Fresh olive oil also works beautifully as a Christmas gift.

Unlike a generic pantry item, a bottle from a recent harvest has a seasonal story behind it.

There is a grove.

A producer.

A harvest.

A region.

A particular growing year.

That gives the gift a sense of place and timing.

For anyone who enjoys food, cooking or Mediterranean culture, Northern Hemisphere harvest olive oil can feel more personal than an ordinary bottle of oil.

The Italian Connection

In Italy, the first oil of the new harvest is traditionally celebrated as olio nuovo.

It is often tasted very simply, sometimes with little more than fresh bread and salt.

The point is not to disguise the oil.

It is to experience it.

This tradition is a reminder that olive oil has a season and that the first oil of that season is something worth looking forward to.

What to Look for When Buying in December

If you are buying fresh olive oil towards the end of the year, check where possible for:

• harvest year

• origin

• producer

• olive variety

• storage conditions

• clear packaging information

Do not rely only on a best-before date.

The harvest date gives you a much clearer picture of how recently the oil was produced.

Use It While It Is Fresh

One of the biggest mistakes people make with premium olive oil is saving it for too long.

If you have bought a fresh seasonal oil, use it.

Cook with it.

Pour it over bread.

Dress salads with it.

Finish soups and pasta with it.

New-season olive oil is meant to be enjoyed while the fresh characteristics are still vibrant.

Following the Harvest Into Summer

December is more than just the beginning of summer in Australia.

For olive oil lovers, it is also the point when Mediterranean harvests create a new opportunity for freshness.

At Olio Nuovo, this is exactly why Northern Hemisphere harvest olive oil matters.

It allows us to follow the olive harvest across the world and bring another fresh season to Australian tables.

Summer food is already simple, bright and generous.

Fresh olive oil makes it even better.