Pataua Olives
olives ripening in the sun
Pataua Olive Grove is family operated concern, the first of the trees planted in the early 70′s to form a windbreak. The grove now has 400 trees with 18 different cultivars which are spray free as they have no pests. In the early years trialling of different cultivars was carried by a local nurseryman.
Because of the heavy fruiting on the trees and the growing interest in olive oil a processing plant was imported from Italy, turning a hobby into a business. The plant has a high pressure hydraulic ram which produces cold pressed extra virgin olive oil. The process is capable of processing 100 kilos per batch taking about three hours to complete.
The high quality of the olive oil results from the fruit being harvested, washed and pressed within twenty-four hours. The oil has a fresh, green flavour with fruity character, starting smooth with a peppery finish.
