The olive tree, a powerful symbol of our shared heritage, stands above all as a hallmark of Mediterranean culture. The methods of preparing table olives are as diverse and vibrant as the communities that cultivate and enjoy them. As olives are being harvested, three National Geographic explorers are travelling across the Mediterranean in search of traditional methods to bring the fruit to the table.
The Entangled Destiny project is on journey around Italy, Spain, and Lebanon to share information on the ecological and cultural relevance of three Mediterranean iconic trees—olive, carob and stone pine— while collecting stories reflecting local traditional knowledge. The search for traditional olive preparation recipes is not limited to the road trip, however. The explorers would like to gather stories from around the region to capture this incredible variety of traditional recipes and culinary creativity.
Do you know someone with a traditional olive preparation method? Perhaps you have a cherished family recipe passed down through generations, or maybe you’ve put your own spin on a beloved grandma’s recipe. Now is the perfect time to share it!
Help put your village or town on the map by contributing to this important project. Share your olive preparation story, and together, let’s honour the olive tree’s legacy for future generations.
Share your story with us! Simply fill out this questionnaire document (in English, Spanish, Italian, and Arabic) and consent form (in English, Spanish and Italian), then send them via email to magda.boudagher@efi.int
