Provençal olive oil

The Mediterranean region has a long history of producing olives, and the Romans encouraged their planting when they colonized Provence and the neighboring areas. The world-famous Savon de Marseille, a pure soap that is produced and sold with strict ties to its tradition, must contain olive oil in addition to being used for culinary purposes.

But for many, the historic Provence olive orchards are only associated with one thing: olive oil. The "star of Southern French gastronomy", according to the French Tourist Board in the US, is olive oil. Like wine, cheese, and other food goods, some olive oil has an origin certificate that indicates how and where it was produced. There are three AOCs and two AOPs in Provence, which allow olive oil made there to carry the name of the region it originates from, such as Des Baux de Provence. As a result, the olive oils from these areas have unique flavors and smells that range from vegetal to fruity and are each distinctive in their own way.