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The lowly olive is one of the world's greatest and most historically
coveted foods. Throughout history, the olive tree has been the subject
of mythology, a sign of longevity, and a source for excellent wood.
From the olive flows olive oil, a precious commodity that was used
historically for food, fuel, the anointing of kings, industrial
lubricant, medicinal balm, soap manufacture, and polishing finely
cut diamonds.
The fruit of the olive tree, the olive itself, has been eaten for
centuries (ever since people learned how to tame the raw, inedible
olive and make it edible by removing its inherent bitterness). There
exists an enormous variety of olives, and endless ways of curing,
flavoring, and marinating the olive. There is an ever increasing
number of olive varieties being imported into the United States,
which thankfully, gives the gourmet an ever increasing choice.
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