May to early June is one of the busiest times of the year at Mount Zero Olives, it’s olive harvesting time. So by mid-June olive oil production is in full swing, and you can find our first new season olive oil has been pressed, extracted, bottled and ready to go.
According to the guide to harvesting by the Australian Olive Association (AOA), olives take six to seven months to grow, which is a long time compared to other stone fruits, so it’s vital you know when is the optimum time to harvest.
The AOA say there are several considerations to be made to determine when is best to harvest, including:
- The olives must have the maximum weight of oil.
- The quality of the oil must be optimal.
- Fruit and olive tree damage must be minimal.
- Next year’s crop must not be affected.
- Harvesting must be as cheap as possible.
The AOA states that the time when olives reach the maximum amount of oil that is of the highest quality varies from region to region because of environmental conditions and different olive variety factors. So the optimal harvest time in Australia the AOA suggests must be determined by studying the local environment, not based on the external and internal colour of the fruit.
The AOA report says in general, olive harvesting tends to start in Queensland in mid-March and finishes in southern Victoria at the end of June.
After harvesting olives for over two decades, the Seymour family have an unparalleled understanding of their Grampians based Mount Zero olive grove. They have finessed the perfect harvesting time season after season to maximise flavour and quality, without sacrificing the environment using sustainable and ethical farming practices.
Why stock up on new season olive oil?
Similar to most other fresh foods, olive oil is at its tastiest and most nutritious (hello olive oil health benefits) when consumed fresh and as soon after the latest harvest as possible. Think of it as the opposite of a fine wine, where olive oil loses its complexity of flavour over time. So you don’t want to wait too long to try Mount Zero Olives’ latest harvest.
All Mount Zero olive oil is cold-pressed within hours of the harvest to maintain premium quality and taste. Our new season olive oil offers the best layers of flavour (we’ll get to the sublime tasting notes in just a second!) and you’ll find you can really taste the difference between flavours of our various olive oil varieties.
New season olive oils offer you various nuances of flavour – is that a hint of pear, almond or maybe fresh cut grass? Our new season olive oils will introduce crisp, exciting and subtle flavours to your meals. We encourage you to try it for yourself and taste the difference.
Mount Zero Olives olive oil range
Here’s everything you need to know about our olive oil range along with some handy tasting notes to help you decide which delicious oil you want to pop the lid off first to enhance your home cooking.
Arbequina Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Recommended uses Arbequina Extra Virgin Olive Oil:
- Delicate dressings
- Homemade hummus
- Sweet or savoury baking applications
- To confit your favourite protein or vegetables
Picual Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Recommended uses for Picual Extra Virgin Olive Oil:
- Fabulous with fresh tomatoes, think bruschetta or in a tomato basil salad
- Pair with fish or seafood
- Gluten-free potato lahoh bread
- Drizzle over grilled vegetables
frantoio extra virgin olive oil
Recommended uses for Frantoio Extra Virgin Olive Oil:
- Frying
- Marinades
- Roasting veggies
- Homemade pesto
frantoio extra virgin olive oil recipes
- Potato bread
- Spaghettoni alla puttanesca
- Pickled red cabbage (and twice-cooked duck leg)
- Macadamia tart
Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Recommended uses for Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil:
- Paired with creamy cheeses (like burrata or buffalo mozzarella)
- Nourishing soups
- Simply pair freshly baked sourdough and Pink Lake salt
Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil Recipes
Yuzu Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Yuzu Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil Recipes
- Pair with raw fish or ceviche
- Dress Japanese-style salads
- A fresh twist to a flavour-packed citrus-choc olive oil cake recipe
Lemon, Mandarin & Lime Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Recommended uses for Lemon, Mandarin & Lime Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil:
- Fresh seafood
- Grilled meats
- Breaky egg dishes
- Sweet baking
- Or simply pour over vanilla ice cream – yum!
lemon, lime & mandarin pressed extra virgin olive oil recipes
Smoked Olive Oil
Collaboratively sourced Paperbark strips from Malaleuca, from Indigenous Communities in the Northern Territory, come together with our Frantoio Oil. The result is a fragrant oil that brings the scent of fire cooking to your kitchen. This smoked oil is the perfect shortcut to achieving that delicious smoky and woody flavours in your food sans the long cooking time for smoking food.
Recommended uses for Smoked Olive Oil:
- Homemade dips – like baba ghanoush and hummus
- Fish and meats
smoked olive oil recipes
We hope this olive oil guide has helped you learn a bit more about the fantastic flavours and advantages of our latest harvest.
Feeling inspired to try our new season olive oil for yourself? Shop Mount Zero Olives range of new season olive oils here and take a look at our favourite olive oil recipes to kick-start your love affair with the spoils of the new season.