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Monday, November 15, 2010

Peachy's Pantry: Terra Medi Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil Recommended by Whom You Know!

Like liquid gold,  terra medi extra virgin olive oil is the pure essence of Koroneiki olives from Greece’s balmy Peloponnesian peninsula. The finest olives ripened under the Mediterranean sun are chosen from a variety of orchards. The earliest crop of olives is harvested by hand and immediately cold pressed, producing a richly flavored, extra virgin olive oil. With an acidity of less than 0.5%, it is smooth and subtle enough to please most American consumers. Available in two sizes: 8.5 fl. oz. (250 ml) and 17 fl. oz. (500 ml).  

Previously, we recommended the regular:

The Peachy's Pantry Panel next tried the organic version.  They put this to the test, and they rave:

The "terra medi" organic EVOO is also a must in my pantry. I've been known to be a "organic geek" and a label reader. I had to find out where the olives are grown and how they were processed. I have always heard from physicians that "first cold pressed" was the most healthy olive oil to purchase.  In my research I found  that the Koroneiki olives  "terri medi" grows are naturally resistant to insects which therefore do not require spraying. For this reason "terri medi" is able to produce  an organic oil. The health benefits are high in fatty acids (a good thing) and antioxidents. The "terri medi" does wonders for replacement of saturated fats, it is cholesterol free and no genetically modified ingredients. "Terra medi" is a nutritional powerhouse and a staple in my house.

In this day where fresh, organic food is the trend, I have honestly never gave organic olive oil much thought. So, when I received the bottle of organic EVOO I was happy to taste it. This bottle of Terra Medi organic oil is a darker shade of green than the regular bottle.  The color of the oil is also a deeper shade of green than the regular oil, but it is still crisp and clean looking. I am not happy when there are "floaties" in my oil or when the oil is cloudy and this organic oil was neither cloudy and it did not have anything floating in it. I used this as a dip and I cooked with it and the oil was tasty both ways. I could not tell the difference from the organic and the regular versions of the oil (and I tasted them side by side).  As with the regular version of the oil, this is a perfect EVOO for everyday use. The oil has enough flavor to taste the olives (which I like), but the flavor is not overwhelming. The oil is strong enough to use as a dip but light enough to use in your cooking.  I would definitely recommend Terra Medi organic EVOO to anyone who is looking for an easy to use olive oil. 

As I stated in my prior review of Terra Medi’s Olive Oil, they have just nailed the packaging giving a contemporary look and feel to the bottle. Their Organic extra virgin olive oil has the same look with three olives all in the same green. Topped off by a striped seal. Again, the clean and modern look of the bottle allow it to stand alone on your dinner table making a great statement. Everyone will surely ask you to pass the olive oil. And truthfully, what is better than an organic option. This is the only way to ensure the pureness of the product and what is going into your body. They produce this olive oil through special organic farming techniques in Greece which allows the olive’s full natural flavor to come through. They also produce a line of vinegars which I will certainly will be trying based on the exquisite smooth texture and flavor of their Olive Oils!

The organic version of the Tera Medi Olive Oil has a fuller flavor than the regular.  The color was darker, and the flavor deeper and more robust than the regular.  We preferred the organic version of the Tera Medi for a stand-alone dip for sourdough bread.  The flavor of the organic oil mixed quite well with an aged balsamic, for dipping, as well.  But the favorite dish prepared with the organic oil was garlic bread.  We drizzled thick slices of sourdough with the organic oil, and then topped them with fresh basil, oregano, and shaved parmesan.  This was a hit with the entire family.  The parents, of course enjoyed using the organic oil to create a vinaigrette salad dressing.  But, we couldn't get that one past the kids.

Whom You Know recommends Terra Medi Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil!


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Greek Farms International, LLC was founded in 2001 by Apostolos Paralikas, Master of Science in Horticulture; John Stavros, a longtime leader in high-end restaurant and hospitality management; and Peter Malo, a distributor of high-quality produce items. Most recently, Michael Besso; an experienced specialty food sales and marketing executive joined the company.

Apostolos Paralikas, John Stavros, Peter Malo and Michael Besso recognized that Americans had long been deprived of high quality Greek olive products. They also realized that olive oil consumption in the U.S. had tripled in the last decade as consumers became aware of its ability to replace traditional cooking oils and positively impact their health, and that this trend would continue. The four partners saw this as an opportunity to bring the finest Greek gourmet products into the U.S. specialty food market. Together they created Greek Farms International, LLC to enable them to source and import these high quality Greek olive products and they developed the Terra Medi brand name in order to effectively market these 100% all natural products to the US consumer.

Greek Farms International and our Terra Medi line of quality products from Greece continues to establish itself as a well recognized premium gourmet brand consumers choose to bring home to enjoy with their families.

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