For many people, olive oil is simply another cooking ingredient.
For our family, it has become a way of life.
A few years ago, we left our comfortable 9-to-5 lives in Austria and started a completely new adventure in Portugal’s beautiful Alentejo region. Our 5-hectare property came with something truly special: around 350 ancient olive trees, some believed to be up to 800 years old.
What began as caring for these magnificent trees soon turned into a passion for producing high-quality virgin olive oil. Today, we hand-harvest every olive ourselves, press them on the very same day, and sell over 500 litres of virgin olive oil every year.
Since moving to Portugal, olive oil has become an essential part of our daily lives. We don’t just sell it. We cook with it, enjoy it every day and even occasionally use it for simple home remedies.
People often ask us about the health benefits of virgin olive oil.
While scientists have studied olive oil for decades, we’d like to share both the research and our own experience as a family of olive growers.
What Is Virgin Olive Oil?
Virgin olive oil is made by mechanically pressing fresh olives without chemical refining or artificial additives.
In our case, that’s exactly how we produce it.
Our olives are:
- Hand-picked by our family
- Pressed on the same day they’re harvested
- Produced in limited quantities
- Grown naturally without irrigation or artificial fertilisers
We believe that nature already knows what it’s is doing. Our job is simply to care for the trees and harvest the olives at the right moment.
Why Is Virgin Olive Oil So Healthy?
Virgin olive oil contains a remarkable combination of nutrients that make it one of the healthiest fats available.
These include:
- Healthy monounsaturated fats
- Natural antioxidants
- Vitamin E
- Polyphenols
Unlike highly processed vegetable oils, virgin olive oil remains close to its natural state.
The less processing, the more of these naturally occurring compounds remain.
This is one of the reasons why olive oil has been a cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet for thousands of years.
1. Supports Heart Health
Perhaps the best-known benefit of virgin olive oil is its role in supporting heart health.
Research consistently links Mediterranean-style eating patterns rich in olive oil with better cardiovascular health.
One reason is that olive oil is naturally rich in monounsaturated fats, which are considered a healthier alternative to saturated fats from many processed foods.
For us, this benefit started with one simple decision.
Instead of using several different cooking oils, we now mainly use virgin olive oil and butter.
That one change alone simplified our cooking and reduced our reliance on highly processed fats.
2. Helps Replace Less Healthy Fats
Sometimes health isn’t about adding another “superfood.”
It’s about replacing something less beneficial.
This is probably the biggest advantage we’ve experienced since moving to Portugal.
Back in Austria we used olive oil occasionally.
Today it is our everyday oil.
Instead of cooking with highly refined vegetable oils, almost every meal contains virgin olive oil.
Simple changes are often the ones that last.
3. Naturally Rich in Antioxidants
Virgin olive oil naturally contains antioxidants, including vitamin E and polyphenols.
These compounds help protect the oil itself from oxidation and are one reason fresh, high-quality olive oil is so highly valued.
The amount of these beneficial compounds depends on many factors, including:
- Olive variety
- Climate
- Harvest timing
- Processing
- Storage
This is one reason freshness matters.
4. Part of the Mediterranean Lifestyle
Olive oil is famous because it forms the foundation of the Mediterranean diet.
But here’s something we’ve learned after living in Portugal.
The Mediterranean lifestyle isn’t just about olive oil.
It’s about:
- Fresh vegetables
- Home-cooked meals
- Eating together
- Spending time outdoors
- Daily movement
- Simplicity
Olive oil ties all these things together.
It’s difficult to prepare Mediterranean food without it.
5. A Healthy Habit the Whole Family Enjoys
One of our favourite moments at the dinner table involves our son.
Before he even starts eating, he reaches for the olive oil.
Almost every meal gets a generous drizzle of cold, raw virgin olive oil.
Not because we ask him to.
Simply because he loves the taste.
Whether it’s potatoes, vegetables, pasta, rice or fresh bread, he enjoys adding olive oil just before eating.
For us, that’s one of the nicest compliments our olive oil can receive.
When your own children genuinely enjoy it every day, you know you’re producing something special.
6. More Than Just Cooking
Although olive oil is primarily a food, we occasionally use it outside the kitchen as well.
After spending long days working under the Portuguese sun, we sometimes apply a small amount directly to dry skin.
We’ve found that it leaves our skin feeling softer and more moisturised after high sun exposure.
We also occasionally use olive oil as part of our gum hygiene routine by gently swishing a small amount before brushing our teeth.
These aren’t the main reasons we produce olive oil.
But they show just how versatile this natural product can be.
Does Heating Destroy the Health Benefits?
This is probably the biggest myth we hear.
Many people believe olive oil should only be eaten cold.
In our experience, that’s simply not true.
We cook with virgin olive oil almost every day.
Soups.
Vegetables.
Sauces.
Roasted dishes.
Salad dressings.
For everyday cooking, virgin olive oil works wonderfully.
For very high-temperature frying, we often choose butter instead.
Why We Believe Hand Harvesting Matters
If there is one thing we wish more people understood about olive oil, it is this:
Great olive oil begins in the grove.
Not in the factory.
Our trees aren’t harvested by large machines.
Every olive is picked by hand.
It’s slower.
It’s harder work.
But we believe it’s gentler on our ancient trees and allows us to harvest with greater care.
Many of our trees have stood here for centuries.
Some are believed to be around 800 years old.
We see ourselves less as owners and more as caretakers for the next generation.
Freshness Makes a Difference
Immediately after harvesting, our olives are pressed on the very same day.
This helps preserve freshness before the oil is packaged.
We also bottle directly into metal tins instead of storing the oil for long periods.
Why?
Because light is one of olive oil’s biggest enemies.
Our customers receive six separate 1-litre tins rather than one large container.
That means only one litre is exposed to air at a time while the remaining five stay sealed and protected.
It’s a simple decision that helps preserve quality for much longer.
“It’s the Best Olive Oil We’ve Ever Tasted”
One sentence makes all the hard work worthwhile.
Visitors often tell us:
“This is the best olive oil we’ve ever tasted.”
Those words mean everything to us.
After all, every olive has been harvested by our own hands.
Sponsor Your Own Olive Tree
If you’ve ever wanted to know exactly where your olive oil comes from, we’d love to welcome you to our farm.
Instead of simply buying olive oil, many of our customers sponsor one of our ancient olive trees.
Each sponsorship includes:
- Your own olive tree in Portugal
- A photograph of your tree
- The opportunity to give it a personal name
- Six litres of virgin olive oil from the annual harvest
- Delivery in six separate 1-litre tins to preserve freshness
Many families tell us it’s one of the most meaningful gifts they’ve ever given.
You’re not just receiving olive oil.
You’re becoming part of the story behind it.
Learn more at www.equilibrio.com.pt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is virgin olive oil healthier than refined olive oil?
Virgin olive oil undergoes minimal processing, allowing it to retain more of its naturally occurring compounds than refined olive oil.
Can I cook with virgin olive oil?
Yes. We cook with it every day on our farm and use it for most everyday dishes.
How much olive oil should I eat?
There is no single amount that’s right for everyone, but using virgin olive oil regularly as part of a balanced Mediterranean-style diet is a simple way to replace less healthy fats.
Is olive oil better than vegetable oil?
It depends on the type of vegetable oil, but many people choose virgin olive oil because it is minimally processed and naturally rich in monounsaturated fats.
Does good olive oil taste peppery?
Yes. Fresh, high-quality virgin olive oil often has a pleasant peppery sensation in the throat. This is a natural characteristic and one many olive oil lovers appreciate.
Final Thoughts
For us, the greatest health benefit of virgin olive oil isn’t found in one specific nutrient or one scientific study.
It’s the way it encourages a simpler, more natural way of eating.
Today, almost every meal in our home includes olive oil.
Our son happily pours it over his food because he genuinely loves the flavour.
We cook with it.
We share it with friends.
We harvest it together as a family.
After leaving our old lives in Austria, caring for ancient olive trees in Portugal has taught us that some of the healthiest foods are also the simplest.
Good soil.
Healthy trees.
Careful harvesting.
Fresh olives.
And a little patience.
Sometimes, that’s all nature needs.
equilibrio.com.pt 