THE GOOD OIL: Rosslyn Kemp with the gold medal winning Tawarri Grove extra virgin olive oil. Photo: JEFF DEATH
THE Tawarri Grove extra virgin olive oil grown from olives planted near The Pinnacle has taken out gold at the Royal Canberra Extra Virgin Olive Oil Show.
The gold medal was won at a show which encourages large and small growers to exhibit their oils, leading to a greater appreciation of the oils that are produced in Australia.
Second place in the competition went to Abilene owned by Lorraine and John Milla from Borenore.
Tawarri Grove owner Rosslyn Kemp said she and husband David planted their first grove of olives 12 years ago and were thrilled with the win.
She said it had been a difficult year in terms of production for olive growers with extraction yields down on previous years.
"We just simply didn't get the warm conditions which we needed last summer - everyone is in the same situation and have been subject to the climatic conditions," she said.
Ms Kemp said since Tawarri began producing its extra virgin olive oil six years ago she had found a variety of ways to use the oil.
"I have it there with me all the time so I find I use it for everything from salads to flash frying and even a spoonful in soup," she said.
This year due to the weather conditions the oil has a distinctive green colour.
"But the flavour is superb," she said.
The oil is available from Orange Visitors Centre and at the Orange region farmers market in October.
