Maalouf Indutry & Trading S.A.L.

Olive Oil

The History of Olive Oil:

The history of the olive tree has its roots firmly entwined with that of Lebanon itself, stretching back thousands of years to the time of the Phoenicians. It was from here, all those centuries ago, that Lebanon’s earliest seafaring civilization embarked on journeys to North Africa and Southern Europe, taking the practice of cultivating olive trees with them.

Today, in Douma, amid the sun-blessed mountains of north east Lebanon, the world’s earliest grown fruit tree, the olive, remains an integral feature of the landscape. With its dry Mediterranean climate, 950m of altitude and stony terrain, nature supplies the perfect conditions for olive cultivation. From this superb location, Maalouf Industries blends expertise in olive production with the most up-to-date technology and the strictest international standards to produce the finest first and cold pressed olive oil. Each product that bears the Maalouf Industries name embodies the true taste of nature and all its health benefits.

The Taste of Excellence

In the Virgin Olive Oil category, oil is obtained from the fruit of the olive tree by mechanical or physical means, which preserve the inherent characteristics. Virgin oils can be classified, when appropriate, according to its taste and aroma and degree of acidity.

Maalouf Industry & Trading s.a.l. produces the following types of olive oil:

PremiumExtra Virgin Olive Oil

Selected only from high quality Douma olives.

Specifications:

• Cold press
• 100% natural
• Very low in acidity (max 0.4%)

Virgin Olive Oil

Our virgin olive oil can show the designation of origin, in cases where the product meets the specific characteristic associated with a particular region.

Specifications:

• Cold press
• 100% natural
• Acidity less than 2%

Extra Virgin Oil

Selecting only the finest quality Koura olives, our extra virgin olive oil is cold pressed to deliver a beautiful golden hue that is healthy and delicious.

Specifications:

• Cold press
• 100% natural
• Acidity less than 0.8%

Pure Olive Oil

Our pure olive oil undergoes mixing extra virgin olive oil with refined olive oil to produce a high-quality product.

Specifications:

• 100% olive oil
• 100% natural
• Acidity less than 1%

HealthBenefits

Olive oil is the only oil that can be consumed directly after pressing. Its natural juice preserves the aroma, taste, vitamins and properties of the olive fruit. The oil’s many health benefits can be attributed to it being rich in monounsaturated fat and antioxidant substances, as well as vitamins.

Olive oil has been proven to help protect against the following diseases & health problems:

Chronic Degenerative Disease

A comparison of diets in the Mediterranean, where olive oil is the predominant fat used in consumption, and diets in the United States and other regions, where animal fats, hydrogenated fats are more prevalent in consumption, has led researchers to conclude that people who use olive oil regularly, especially in place of other fats, have much lower rates of heart disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes, colon cancer and asthma.

Colon Cancer

Spanish research has shown that rats fed a diet supplemented by olive oil have a lower risk of colon cancer. The rate of colon cancer in rats fed olive oil was almost as low as those fed fish oil.

Heart Disease

Studies have shown that people who consumed 25ml (the equivalent of two tablespoons) of extra virgin olive oil daily for one week registered less oxidation of LDL cholesterol (the bad type of cholesterol) and higher levels of antioxidant compounds, particularly phenols, in their blood. While all types of olive oil contain monounsaturated fat, extra virgin olive oil contains higher levels of antioxidants, particularly vitamin E and phenols, due to the less processing involved in its production. Olive oil helps protect against heart disease by controlling LDL cholesterol levels while raising HDL (the good type) cholesterol levels.