Olives are pressed for oil through a process that involves several key steps: first, the olives are crushed into a paste, then this paste is pressed to extract the oil.
The Crushing Process
The first step involves crushing the olives. Traditionally, this was done using millstones, which revolved to grind the olives into a paste. Modern methods may employ more efficient machinery, but the goal remains the same: to create a fine paste from the olives, including the pits. The paste, sometimes called malaxation, needs to be thoroughly crushed to release the oil effectively. As noted in one reference, "Everything needs to be crushed so finely until it turns into paste."
The Pressing Process
Once the olive paste is prepared, it's ready for pressing. Traditionally, this was achieved by spreading the paste onto woven mats, stacking these mats, and then squeezing them using a press to extract the liquid. This process recovers the oil from the paste. The pressure forces the oil out of the olive paste. Modern methods might use more advanced hydraulic presses to achieve higher efficiency and yield.
A Summary of the Steps:
- Harvesting: Olives are harvested from the trees.
- Crushing: Olives are crushed into a paste using millstones or modern machinery.
- Pressing: The paste is pressed to extract the olive oil. This may involve traditional methods like woven mats and a press or modern hydraulic presses.
Several resources highlight this process, emphasizing the transformation of olives into a paste before the pressing stage. This paste is critical for optimal oil extraction.
