Olive Odyssey: Searching for the Secrets of the Fruit That Seduced the World

by Julie Angus

When Julie Angus visits her relatives in Syria, where they continue a centuries-old tradition of making olive oil, she understands that the olive is at the very core of who they are. Her curiosity piqued, she begins to wonder about the origins and history of this fruit that has meant so much to them. Angus, her husband, and their ten-month-old son embark on a Mediterranean voyage to retrace the route of the Phoenicians and discover who ate the first olive and learned to make oil from it, why it became such an influential commodity for many of the greatest civilizations, and how it expanded from its earliest roots in the Middle East. As they sail the dazzling waters of the Mediterranean, Angus and her husband collect samples from ancient trees, testing them to determine where the first olive tree originated. They also feast on inky black tapenades in Cassis, nibble on codfish and chickpeas creamed in olive oil in Sardinia, witness the harvesting of olives in Greece, and visit perhaps the oldest olive tree in the world, on Crete.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Travel, Food

344 pages, Hardcover

First published April 18, 2014

Reviews

[Heidi Madden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took forever for me to read, but I enjoyed a lot of it. Specifically, Julie is a great travel writer, and her stories of sailing the Mediterranean made me miss my time in the South of France SO much. The history of olives and description of the growing and harvesting and all the different varieties was also super interesting. I got lost at some of the more sciencey sections, though, and the technical aspects. Fascinating, I'm sure, but I struggled with it. Overall, it was an excellent interesting read.

[Jen Gauthier · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a pleasure to travel vicariously with Julie Angus. Who wouldn't want to sail the Mediterranean in the path of the Phoenicians, basking in the sun, sampling olives and olive oil along the way? This is much more than a travelogue though - the author is a molecular biologist and has the lofty goal of collecting DNA samples from olive trees to prove that the domesticated olive originated in the middle east. She also explores the history and lore of this fruit we take for granted, that rought great wealth to nations and was the source of the original oil boom. She even provides recipes and tips for tasting olive oil. Olive Odyssey is both fun and fascinating.

[Robin Rivers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting an education about the history of olive oil production has never been so intimate. Olive Odessey is a lovely, emotional memoir-styled tour guide of the Mediterranean's most ancient olive plantations and the incredible history surrounding them. Thoroughly enjoyable.

[Shaoroun · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no idea about how rich the olive’s history was, i loved learning about the scientific, historical, and medicinal aspects of this fruit. It makes me want to read more books of this genre for different types of foods!

[Mike Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful, thoroughly enjoyable read. The author blends science and first-person travel flawlessly. This book is in the same league as books by Thor Hanson, Michael Pollan, and Dan Barber; if you like their work and style, you'll love this book.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book, but lack of a map is criminal.

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good combination of travel writing and culinary history.

[Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything you didn't think you could even ask about olives, the primal fruit--the basis for modern civilisation, you might say.
From the growing, the gathering, the pressing, the tasting, the blending, and the prime regions of the olive "orchards", this book covers all but the chemical formula of all the health-giving properties
of olives and olive oil. There is even a village where most of the people are over 90 years old, and a tree possibly 6,000 years old.

[Nancy Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't want to be finished! I really enjoyed this book. Yes, some of it did get a little more scientifically in depth than I liked, but I just skimmed those parts and got back to reading about their travels, food, and information about olives that interested me.

[Kenneth Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story .... entertaining ... and you learn a lot about olive oil

[HelenJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sure learned a lot about olives and olive oil from a local author whom we'd seen launch her last book Rowboat across the Atlantic.

[Rose]

History of olives is interesting. Nice color illustrations. Would have liked maps and index.