Unique and Distinguished
Our Cailletier Single Cultivar Extra Virgin cold crafted olive oil is unlike anything else you have ever tasted – and there are a number of extraordinary reasons for that.
Firstly, the region of Lebanon in which our olive trees grow is renowned for its fertile soil, temperate climate, and unspoiled natural resources. The Békaa Valley has been described as ‘the bread basket of Lebanon’, and is home to some of the finest fruits and produce grown anywhere in the world.
Cailletier olive oil is smooth and aromatic, with a fruity, buttery flavour that is slightly nutty, and a mildly peppery aftertaste. Experts often describe the flavour as being a blend of fresh almond and hazelnut, while others have described it as “the champagne of olive oils”, because, quite simply, there is nothing to match it.
On our family estate, we grow only Cailletier olives, and we do so on a small scale, using organic farming methods that have largely remained unchanged for thousands of years. The Cailletier olive is renowned for its distinctive flavour – but it is not used for large-scale commercial olive farming because it yields less oil per olive than the blander olive varieties grown for mass production. The taste of the Cailletier olive, by comparison, is dramatically superior, and connoisseurs often refer to the oil produced from it as ‘liquid gold’.
Our historic family estate has produced organic olive oil for private consumption for more than a century now, and although we’re now making a certain quantity available for purchase each year, our methods of production have not changed at all.
Organic, Traditional, and Artisanal
Our estate is also inhabited by cows, sheep, ducks, chickens, and rabbits, because they contribute to the preservation of a natural and self-sustaining ecosystem.
Every year before the rainy season, my family carefully prunes our 400 olive trees by hand, to ensure new growth and to check that the trees are healthy. Next, we prepare the soil mixture used to fertilize the earth around the trees, and this is 100% organic, made from animal manure and natural compost. We do not permit the use of any artificial fertilizers, pesticides, or additives of any kind. Once this is done, and the rich mix of soil and manure is placed around the trees in a circular mound, the rains gently soak this blend into the earth, naturally and in tune with the cycles of nature. During the dry period in mid-summer, we also use a drip-feed irrigation system to water the trees optimally and ensure that they aren’t over-watered.
We forbid the use of any chemicals at all – to protect the trees, increase fruit size, or hasten a harvest. Due to the drier climate of the highlands, our trees are protected from many moisture-induced diseases, and we guard against the olive fruit fly by installing traps in the trees.
Then, in due season, when the olives are almost ripe, we begin to harvest them. By picking them early, we preserve a greater quantity of polyphenol in each olive – a compound that not only delivers a host of health benefits, but also vastly enhances the flavour of the oil that is extracted.
Our picking is done by hand, carefully and painstakingly. We don’t use machines, and we don’t use sticks to knock olives from the trees, either. To do so would risk bruising the olives, which increases oxidization and acidity, and can completely spoil the natural flavour. Once picked, the olives are stored in breathable cages rather than bags, to prevent fermentation. To us, it’s also incredibly important to preserve the pristine flavour, and so we pick small batches at a time, which are then transported directly to the press within hours of picking.
Our Cailletier olives are cold pressed using a traditional press. This ensures that no chemical changes take place, that the oil’s purity is guaranteed, and that none of the important nutrients are lost. Then, the oil is stored in airtight stainless steel containers, to allow sediment to settle and for the oil to develop its uniquely wonderful flavour.
Finally, the oil is bottled – but again, for us, this is not a mass production exercise. We bottle our oil to order, and every batch, every bottle, is closely inspected to ensure that it meets our standards.
Discerning Clients and Limited Quantities
Our yearly production is dependent upon the annual harvest, and although we will always do our best to accommodate our clients, it’s best to place your order timeously so that we can endeavour to meet the demand for our Cailletier Single Cultivar Extra Virgin cold crafted olive oil.
Our family’s olive oil is vegan, non-GMO, sugar-free, and gluten-free, and is of course 100% organic.
Our oil is available in 400ml individual bottles, as well as 10L and 20L containers.
