Cold pressed olive oil is extracted at temperatures below 27 degrees Celsius using mechanical force alone — no heat, no chemical solvents. This single constraint preserves over 90 percent of the antioxidants, polyphenols and volatile flavour compounds that make extra virgin olive oil valuable for both health and cooking. Heat extraction, by contrast, destroys up to 30 percent or more of these compounds and produces a bland, nutritionally diminished oil. At O for Olive, every bottle of extra virgin olive oil from Swartrivier Farm in Prince Albert is cold pressed within 24 hours of harvest to preserve the full spectrum of what the olives contain.
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Can You Cook with Olive Oil? The Science Says Yes — Here Is Why
A 2018 Australian study tested 10 common cooking oils by heating them to 240 degrees Celsius over extended periods. Extra virgin olive oil produced the lowest quantity of harmful compounds of all oils tested — outperforming coconut oil, avocado oil and every seed oil including sunflower, which is the default cooking oil in most South African kitchens. The persistent myth that you cannot cook with extra virgin olive oil has been debunked by the Culinary Institute of America, the USDA and peer-reviewed research. EVOO is not just safe for cooking. It is the most stable option available.
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Olive Farms to Visit in the Western Cape: A Guide for Every Route
The Western Cape produces 93 percent of South Africa’s olive oil, and the farms that make it are spread across three distinct regions — the Cape Winelands (30 to 90 minutes from Cape Town), the Breede River Valley and Route 62 corridor (90 minutes to 3 hours), and the Karoo (4 to 5 hours). Each region offers a different experience: quick tastings paired with wine in the Winelands, award-winning estates along the Breede River, and immersive farm-to-table experiences in the Karoo. Here are the olive farms worth visiting, organised by route.
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Olive Oil for Skin: What the Research Says About the Benefits and the Risks
Olive oil contains up to 300 times more squalene than any other vegetable oil — the same compound human skin produces naturally to stay moisturised and protected. A 2024 clinical trial published in Medicina found that olive oil polyphenols applied topically reduced wrinkles by 34 to 52 percent in 30 days. But there is a caveat: a University of Sheffield study found that topical olive oil can damage the skin barrier in some people, and its moderate comedogenic rating makes it unsuitable for oily or acne-prone skin. The emerging consensus is that eating high-quality cold pressed extra virgin olive oil may deliver better, safer skin benefits than applying it directly.
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A Weekend in Prince Albert: The Perfect Karoo Itinerary
Prince Albert is a five-hour drive from Cape Town, has more restaurants per capita than most towns in the Western Cape, sits at the foot of a UNESCO World Heritage mountain pass and offers stargazing so clear that professional astronomy operators have set up here permanently. A two-night weekend covers the Saturday market, a Swartberg Pass drive, an olive farm tour with tasting, award-winning cheese, at least two memorable dinners and a night sky you will not see anywhere near a city. Here is how to spend it.
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Cold Pressed Olive Oil: What It Actually Means and Why It Matters
Cold pressed olive oil is extracted at temperatures below 27 degrees Celsius using mechanical force alone — no heat, no chemical solvents. This single constraint preserves over 90 percent of the antioxidants, polyphenols and volatile flavour compounds that make extra virgin olive oil valuable for both health and cooking. Heat extraction, by contrast, destroys up to 30 percent or more of these compounds and produces a bland, nutritionally diminished oil. At O for Olive, every bottle of extra virgin olive oil from Swartrivier Farm in Prince Albert is cold pressed within 24 hours of harvest to preserve the full spectrum of what the olives contain.
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Prince Albert Restaurants: Where to Eat in the Karoo’s Favourite Foodie Town
Prince Albert has more restaurants per resident than almost any town in the Western Cape, and each one draws on the same Karoo pantry: slow-roasted lamb, artisan cheeses from Gay’s Guernsey Dairy, cold pressed olive oil from Swartrivier Farm and seasonal produce from the surrounding valley. From a six-table kitchen that has served the same menu for 24 years to a working olive farm where lunch comes with mountain views and an olive tasting, here is where to eat in Prince Albert.
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How to Use Tapenade: Seven Ways to Serve It Beyond Crackers
Most people buy a jar of olive tapenade, spread it on a cracker and stop there. But tapenade — a blend of crushed olives, capers, olive oil and herbs — is one of the most versatile ingredients in a kitchen. It is a pasta sauce, a pizza base, a marinade, a sandwich upgrade and a breakfast game changer. Here are seven ways to use tapenade that go far beyond the cheese board.
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The Swartberg Pass Road Trip: A Complete Guide to Stops, Safety and Where to Eat
The Swartberg Pass is a 27-kilometre gravel road that climbs 1,000 metres through the Swartberg Mountains, connecting Oudtshoorn to Prince Albert across one of the most dramatic mountain crossings in South Africa. Built by Thomas Bain using convict labour between 1881 and 1888, the pass is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a national monument. Here is everything to know before driving it.
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The Ultimate Olive Oil Braai Marinade Guide: Five Recipes for Every Meat
Extra virgin olive oil is the one ingredient that turns a good braai marinade into a great one. As a natural emulsifier, it binds herbs, garlic, citrus and spices into a stable coating that locks in moisture and builds flavour — while adding the polyphenols and antioxidants that make it one of the healthiest cooking fats available. Here are five olive oil braai marinades, each designed for a different protein.
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The Proven Health Benefits of Olive Oil and Olives: What 90,000 People and 28 Years of Research Reveal
A Harvard study tracking more than 90,000 people over 28 years found that those who consumed olive oil daily had a 19 percent lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, a 17 percent lower risk of dying from cancer and a 29 percent lower risk of dying from neurodegenerative disease. The health benefits of olive oil and olives are no longer a matter of folk wisdom — they are among the most thoroughly researched findings in modern nutrition science.
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