Making premium quality olive oil is the result of care and attention at every stage in the process, but what happens after our olives are picked, and why is the process vital in producing olive oil of exceptional quality.
At Morocco Gold, we know that every minute, every movement, and every decision made by our dedicated production team matters. Premium single‑estate olive oil is known for its purity, freshness, and exceptional polyphenol content but just how is this achieved after the olives are picked?
1. Harvesting: The Race Against Time
Once olives are picked, the clock starts ticking. Quality depends on speed.
- Morocco Gold olives are harvested by hand, allowing workers to choose only healthy, perfectly ripe fruit. This avoids bruising and contamination that can occur with mechanical harvesting.
- Early season harvest: Their olives are picked early in the season, when polyphenol levels are naturally higher and flavours are more vibrant.
- Immediate transport: Olives are moved from grove to mill within hours — a critical step to prevent oxidation and fermentation.
This early, careful harvest is the foundation of Morocco Gold’s signature taste: fresh, fruity, and peppery.
2. Cleaning & Preparation: Protecting Purity
Before milling, olives undergo essential cleaning steps:
- Leaf and twig removal: A gentle air‑blowing system separates debris from the fruit.
- Washing: Olives are washed in clean, cold water to remove dust and impurities.
- Final inspection: Workers visually check the fruit to ensure only top‑quality olives proceed.
Morocco Gold emphasises cleanliness and minimal handling to preserve the olives’ natural integrity.
3. Crushing: Turning Fruit into Paste
Once cleaned, olives are crushed into a paste. Morocco Gold uses:
- Traditional granite millstones or modern stainless‑steel crushers, depending on batch and desired flavour profile.
- Cold‑crushing temperatures to protect delicate aromatic compounds.
The goal is simple: break the olive cells open without heating them, ensuring the oil retains its natural antioxidants and flavour.
4. Malaxation: The Gentle Art of Coaxing Out the Oil
Malaxation is the slow mixing of olive paste to encourage oil droplets to merge.
Morocco Gold’s approach includes:
- Strict temperature control: Always below 27°C — the legal threshold for “cold extraction.”
- Short mixing times: Over‑mixing can reduce polyphenols and introduce bitterness. Morocco Gold keeps this step brief and precise.
- Oxygen‑free environment: Exposure to air can degrade quality, so the paste is mixed in sealed chambers.
This step is where aroma, flavour, and nutritional value are protected.
5. Extraction: Separating Oil from Water and Solids
Morocco Gold uses two‑phase centrifugal extraction, a modern method that:
- Spins the paste at high speed
- Separates oil from vegetation water and solids
- Avoids chemical solvents entirely
The result is pure, unadulterated extra virgin olive oil — exactly as nature intended.
6. Testing & Certification: Ensuring Extra Virgin Quality
Before bottling, Morocco Gold’s oil undergoes rigorous testing:
- Acidity level: Must be below 0.8% to qualify as extra virgin; Morocco Gold typically achieves far lower.
- Polyphenol content: Measured to confirm antioxidant richness.
- Sensory evaluation: Certified tasters check for defects and assess flavour notes.
- Chemical analysis: Ensures no contaminants, additives, or impurities.
Only oil that meets Morocco Gold’s strict standards is approved for bottling.
7. Bottling: Protecting Freshness
Morocco Gold’s bottling process is designed to preserve quality:
- Dark glass bottles shield the oil from light.
- Nitrogen‑flushed bottling lines prevent oxidation.
- Single‑estate traceability: Every bottle can be traced back to the exact grove and harvest.
This is where the journey becomes tangible — the moment the oil is sealed, protected, and ready for consumers.
Morocco Gold avoids long storage times, ensuring the oil reaches consumers at peak freshness.
Why Morocco Gold’s Process Matters
Every step — from hand‑picking to nitrogen‑flushed bottling — is designed to preserve:
- High polyphenol levels
- Low acidity
- Fresh, vibrant flavour
- Natural purity
- Authentic single‑estate character
This is what sets Morocco Gold apart: a commitment to quality that begins in the grove and continues until the moment the bottle is opened.
For more information on the intricate production process that goes in to every bottle of Morocco Gold extra virgin olive oil see here.
