Olive oil is, without a doubt, is a kitchen essential that we simply cannot live without. This “liquid gold” can be used for so many different things in the kitchen, from salad dressings to sauteeing different dishes.
Do you know where olive oil comes from? While it might be a common thing to find in kitchens throughout the world, most of us aren’t aware of the places that produce the olive oil that we end up using. Here are the world’s biggest producers.
Spain
Spain is the world’s leading olive oil producer, making over a million tons of the gold stuff on a yearly basis. Spain is lucky enough to have a large landmass with a lot of territory that is perfectly suited for the cultivation of olive trees.
Italy
Another Mediterranean nation comes in at number two on the list, with Italy producing over 500,000 tons annually. Olive oil has long been a staple of Italian cooking, forming the basis of many a pasta sauce and dip.
Greece
Surprise, surprise! Another Mediterranean country, Greece, is #3 on the list despite possessing a relatively small land area. Greece is unique in that nearly all of the country’s landmass and climate is suitable for olive oil production, which is why it gets so much out of its relatively small size.
