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Are olives fattening? Do olives have the same properties as olive oil? Do they increase cholesterol? We are going to solve these and other questions about olives that, despite being a common food in our lives, there are false myths around them.

We will start by highlighting the natural properties of olives, since it is a natural product rich in fiber, iron and healthy fats. Olives are not just an aperitif that accompanies a beer or a good glass of wine, but a very healthy Mediterranean custom that brings us many benefits to our health. Its unsaturated fat content prevents heart disease, is beneficial for the circulatory system and helps to maintain our weight.

After this introduction, we are going to dismantle some myths and false beliefs about olives:

- Olives are fattening is the first widespread myth, but for many years, nutritionists and health experts have been reporting on the beneficial properties that help control weight. Its high fiber content and satiating power make taking some olives before meals help to keep our weight in check. So that olives are fattening is the first false myth on this list.

- Do olives increase cholesterol? The answer is a clear no. According to studies carried out by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA), the polyphenols in olives reduce LDL cholesterol or "bad" cholesterol. In this way, olives protect against the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins (LDL cholesterol), their subsequent accumulation and hardening of the arterial walls.

- Do olive oil have the same properties as olives? Although a priori it may seem a bit absurd, this question is not, since the natural composition of olives makes it have more properties than oil. In addition to incorporating the oil itself, they have an extra amount of water, fiber, minerals and vitamins. Therefore, the consumption of olives brings more benefits to our body than liquid gold.

- Olives contain a lot of salt. This is the weak point of olives, since their conservation in brine makes them have a high sodium content, therefore we must take certain precautions if we have high blood pressure. But we have the solution so that you can continue enjoying this aperitif: you can soak them the night before use and desalt them as is usually done with cod.

- How many olives is recommended to take a day? Although there is no exact answer to this question, the recommended daily serving ranges between 6 and 10 olives. A perfect amount to take every day in different ways, a few days as an aperitif, another day we add it to a salad, in pizzas, etc.

Knowing the food we eat is essential to incorporate it correctly into our diet, avoiding false myths and beliefs. Olives are a source of properties and benefits for our diet, and they are also delicious !!!!

For sauces, side dishes, in pizzas, in salads, ideal for fish and meat dishes ... caper is part of our cuisine but for many it remains an unknown product. We are going to discover its origin, its history and the different uses for this product, so natural and so ours.

 This small fruit is part of our Mediterranean gastronomy and comes from a bush called Capparis Spinosa (caper). The caper is the immature cocoon that is collected to be preserved habitually in vinegar, salt and tarragon. Although its natural flavor is bitter, once prepared, capers have an excellent flavor and can be taken as a pickle.

In gastronomy, capers are perfect for making sauces, seasoning fish and meat, and add an original touch to salads and pizzas. In addition, due to its high sodium content, it can be a perfect substitute for salt when seasoning chicken, salmon, turkey, vegetables or salads.

The caper in the kitchen

In Ancient Greece the flowers and fruits of the plant were used in cooking, and the stems and leaves were also used for medicinal purposes. The Greeks were in charge of introducing capers in the Mediterranean towns, especially in the Italic and Iberian peninsulas, as well as in the Mediterranean islands. This plant quickly and easily adapted to these territories due to the warm and sunny climate.

There is also evidence of the use of the caper as an ingredient in various dishes in Ancient Rome, including in the cold cheese casserole (possible origin of the gazpacho) or in dishes that served as an aperitif.

In Andalusí cuisine, capers were kept in brine and, seasoned with oil and vinegar, they were eaten with curdled milk. It also appears in many dishes combined with asparagus, since both coincide in the wild harvest season.

In the 17th century, capers appeared in numerous recipes collected by the famous Le Cuisinier cookbook, possibly the gastronomic bible of the time.

Currently there are many uses and dishes in which the caper is the protagonist or it is one of the ingredients that adds a unique touch to recipes. Capers are highly valued for making sauces, Italian pasta dishes and Greek pasta inherited from centuries of tradition, such as the famous putanesca sauce. Pizzas and focaccias are also perfect to incorporate this ingredient, in addition to seasoning meat dishes such as chicken. It is also very present in the most avant-garde cuisine, whether in sauces such as tartar, remoulade or tartar steak.

In Spain the use of capers is very widespread in all regions, forming part of traditional dishes in the Balearic Islands, Catalonia, Extremadura, Andalusia, Murcia….

The pasta made from crushed olives with capers, anchovies and olive oil is known as Tapenade, a perfect product to make appetizers or to accompany meat and fish.

Although we can practically buy everything on Internet, making the purchase online can raise many doubts. Today we would like to offer you a practical guide so that buying online becomes a satisfactory experience exempt of last minute surprises.

How can I know if a website is trustworthy? If this is the first time you have decided to buy from an online store, it is important that the company's data is visible and accessible. Having a telephone, a physical address and a contact email, gives us security and guarantee to know that there is a company that will respond in case of any doubt or incident.

Is online payment safe? The stores that operate on the Internet offer us many valid ways to pay for our purchase. Each user has to decide which form of payment best suits his/her needs, whether by transfer, card payment, payment platform, or cash on delivery. All these forms of payment must be supported by a reliable and secure sales policy. In Montegil we offer the possibility of payment by transfer, cash on delivery and by credit card through a virtual POS with authentication.

Is buying food online safe? Companies selling food through an an online store usually offer the buyer all the guarantees so that the product arrives in perfect conditions at home. Montegil offers its customers a perfect container for shipping and intact preservation of the product, PET. Montegil PET containers are perfect for preserving our olives and pickles, they keep all their flavor, and they are also light and virtually unbreakable. Perfect for shipments to arrive optimally.

Will my favorite product be there? The online purchase gives us the possibility of accessing products that we cannot find physically in our city and that we can easily obtain. For example, if you want a special extra virgin olive oil, such as our Extra Virgin Olive Oil,  you can have it at home through our online store. You can also find special gourmet products like olives stuffed with jalapeños, queen olives stuffed with piri-piri or blue cheese, perfect to enjoy the flavors offered by Montegil queen stuffed olives.

Can I return my purchase? Like any store, online stores must offer a clear return policy if the product does not meet the desired expectations. This return policy must be very clear on the web and the user must know what the conditions are: deadlines, shipping costs in case of return, way to recover the money, etc.

Montegil online store offers all the guarantees for you to make your secure purchase. You can contact us directly if you wish through our phone or email; The payment methods of Montegil online store offers all the guarantees for use’s peace of mind; Our products will arrive in perfect condition and protected; you can find a variety of flavors and formats of olives, pickles and extra virgin olive oil; And of course you can return your purchase if you need it.

Enter shop.montegil.es and enjoy the quality and taste of Montegil.

If you have a bar, restaurant, gastrobar or tavern ... you know how important is to receive customers with a good snack. In Spain it is usual, and a healthy habit, to have your drink accompanied by a plate of olives or some delicious pickles. In Montegil we specialize in hospitality and sell olives in HORECA format, particularly queen olives, either boneless or stuffed olives, as well as pickles and lemons and oranges preserved in their own juice.

We suggest 5 appetizers to indulge your clients:

Stuffed Queen Olives: Enjoy a perfect combination of flavors such as queen olives and almonds, Manchego cheese, jalapeños or piri-piri, or good anchovy-flavored manzanilla olives are an ideal choice as an appetizer. A contrast of unique flavors and mixture of textures that make Montegil gourmet products a real delight.

Banderillas: One of the clients' favorites are our classic skewers, prepared with olives, onions, pickles, pepper and chilli ... really delicious!

Capers: a pickle low in fat and rich in properties. Although it is often used to dress meat, fish and salad dishes, there are also many lovers who enjoy this appetizer with a cold beer, a good wine or vermouth.

Anchovy Flavor Olives: Delicious olives with intense anchovy flavor. A fusion of sea aromas with the best fruit on earth. They are ideal to take as an appetizer and season salads and other dishes.

Olive Mix: If you want to surprise your customers, offer this combination of whole green and black olives accompanied by red pepper and aromatic spices. Olive Mix de Montegil is perfect for appetizers and entrees. Variety and flavor in a single product to succeed.

If you want to buy olives, snacks and pickles for your bar or restaurant, go to https://shop.montegil.es/es/ In our store you will find a variety of exquisite stuffed olives, banderillas, pickles at the best price. Place your order and we deliver it easily and quickly.

The concept of "superfood" is increasingly used by nutritionists, chefs and lovers of healthy living. Foods with a high concentration of vitamins, nutrients, antioxidants and healthy fats are known as superfoods. They are very interesting foods due to their nutritional potential and the benefits they bring to our health if we include them in our diet. Examples of superfoods are extra virgin olive oil, legumes, quinoa, broccoli, turmeric, ginger or avocado ..

The Mediterranean diet, for its variety and richness, includes some of these superfoods, and among them is the olive.

Do you know all the benefits of olives?

• Ideal to prevent cardiovascular diseases, since they are useful for lowering high cholesterol (LDL) levels, thanks to the fact that they protect from the oxidation of bad cholesterol, preventing its hardening and accumulation in the arteries.
• Rich in vitamins, water and minerals.
• A perfect antioxidant to fight against body aging and oxidation.
• The perfect appetizer, since they contain fewer calories than we have been led to believe and their high fiber intake makes them perfect for inclusion in diets to lose weight. Fiber also improves gastrointestinal health and improves constipation.
• Help counteract anemia, due to its iron content.
• Perfect for beauty treatments.

Recommendations for healthy consumption.

A balanced diet based on healthy food, exercise and water is essential for all the benefits to act in our body. The recommended daily intake of olives is a serving of about 5 to 7 olives.

Since the last days of September Montegil is busy with the new campaign, several weeks of work that we face with optimism.

The late rains and the beginning of summer with mild temperatures, has caused that this year, the olive harvesting campaign is delayed some weeks. Officially the campaign began on September 1, but the weather conditions of this spring / summer have caused the maturation of the green olive to be delayed. It has been in these last weeks when the green olive has reached its maximum size and its optimal state for harvesting.

The campaign begins with the harvest of the Queen olive variety, which is the first to be ready for collection and is followed by the Manzanilla variety. The olives destined to produce our extra virgin olive oil will be harvested during the month of November, the perfect moment to have one of the extra virgin oils with more quality and flavor of the market.

Once the olive is harvested, following the traditional method known as "verdeo", we are dedicated to selecting the best fruits, according to their size, color, state of maturation, etc. From this moment, olives are processed in order to be ready to prepare our fillings and seasoning of our olives, taking care of the whole process so that they retain all the flavor and nutritional properties of this nurishing fruit.

Montegil is pioneer in the use of PET heat sealing for the packaging of olives, technology that we also apply to other preserved vegetable foods, such as citrus, for domestic use or food service.

Tapenade is a delicious paste of olives, peppers, capers and aromatic herbs. Its texture and versatility make it possible to use it in dishes of all kinds, pasta, tostas, salads ... Montegil tapenade is ready to eat at any time and prepare delicious Mediterranean recipes. We bring you 3 delicious and original dishes with olives tapenade:

Mille-feuille of potato, tapenade and quail egg

This recipe is ideal as an appetizer and skewer. A simple dish to surprise your guests where the tapenade gives juiciness and an authentic flavor. The preparation method is very simple: Wash, peel and cut the potatoes into thin sheets (about 2 or 3 millimeters). Brown them in a pan with extra virgin olive oil. Use that oil to fry quail eggs. Place the layers of potato intercalating the tapenade and finish with the quail egg on top.

Toast of tapenade and white cheese

This recipe is perfect as a quick starter or as a light and nutritious dinner. Spread on a slice of bread or toast our tapenade Montegil, place on top a slice of fresh cheese and finish with a leaf of parsley.

It is a very simple but very healthy dish. Olives are rich in fiber, they contain heart-healthy fats. Additionally, fresh cheese provides calcium, ideal for strengthening bones. A great recipe!

Green leaves, pasta and tapenade salad

This pasta and tapenade salad is perfect to enjoy at any time of the year. A fresh dish, light and ready to eat at any time. Our suggestion is to use different types of green leaves (lamb lettuce, arugula, romanilla ..., add the cooked pasta and give it the perfect touch with our tapenade. A couple of tablespoons throughout the salad, seasoned with extra virgin olive oil, vinegar and a pinch of salt. Mix well and serve!

To make these delicious recipes with tapenade and your best olive dishes, we recommend that you login our online store. In Shop.montegil.es you can buy queen olives, stuffed olives, anchovy flavor olives, tapenade, capers and many more products. To benefit from best prices chose packages.

A new edition of ANUGA will take place in Cologne from 7 to 11 October 2017. Aceitunas Montegil will once again participate in the largest food fair in Europe and it will present its original olives with novel natural fillings . Visit us at our booth A012b located in Hall 11-1.