GREEN GOLD OF SICILY
...discover the authentic taste of Sicily in every drop
Menzu Cafísu extra virgin olive oil is more than just a condiment
but is an ingredient that enriches the dish. It is a treasure that our generous land offers us,
the fruit of an ancient tradition and a unique climate.
What is the Cafísu?
The cafiso (Cafísu) is an ancient unit of volume measurement, closely linked to the production and consumption of olive oil, especially in Sicily, where it is still used today. The cafiso was introduced to Sicily by the Arabs (Qafiz) and has continued to be used, as a traditional unit of measurement, even after the Norman, Aragonese and Bourbon dominations. Despite the introduction of the metric system, the cafiso has survived in many areas, maintaining its relevance in the daily life of rural communities as a link to the history and agricultural traditions of Sicily.
The exact value of a cafiso can vary from one area of Sicily to another, ranging between 10 and 16 litres. In eastern Sicily and Ragusa, where we produce the oil, the value of a cafiso is 12 litres.
WHERE WE ARE
Welcome to eastern Sicily, exactly in San Giacomo, a fraction of Ragusa city, the ideal place to start a virtuous journey through land, history, climate and centuries-old olive trees.
The olive trees grow flourishing in a rocky hilly environment, where the landscape is characterised by its ruggedness and unspoilt beauty. Hilltops alternate with deep valleys, sculpted by wind and stone, creating a picture of rare intensity. The soil, rich in nutrients, favours the development of plants, which sink their roots into the fertile and healthy soil.
This natural environment, far from urban centres and protected from pollution and any form of human disturbance, offers plants an ideal context for growing strong and healthy, in perfect harmony with the surrounding nature.
The purity of the air and the strength of the earth create an ideal ecosystem, where each olive bears witness to an ancient and perfect balance.
WHO WE ARE
We are a family of quality extra virgin olive oil producers for several generations.
Oil is an immersive experience, the springboard for a plunge into the olive growing history of a unique territory that stimulates memories, tells the adventures of passionate people who pass on their cultural heritage and put their own experience to good use.
Our product contains many of these stories told and handed down by our ancestors, from the care of the olive groves, to the harvest, from the selection of the drupes to the secrets of the milling process, which will guide you on this journey made up of popular tradition, places of belonging and the fruits of hard work and experience.
Are you curious to try it out?
Send us a message by clicking on the WhatsApp button (green button) at the bottom right.
Care of the olive groves
With respect for biodiversity, we maintain the grassing of the olive groves to maintain soil fertility. The presence of the turf also improves the capacity for water infiltration into the deeper layers of the soil.
Organic fertilisation, careful care of the olive trees and traditional cultivation techniques are indispensable factors in obtaining excellent raw material.
For us, the plant must not only be healthy but also integrated and in perfect balance with its environment.
In this context, it is important to set up a good nutritional strategy for the plant, so that it develops luxuriantly, is well nourished and, above all, that the drupes are healthy, thus allowing us to obtain a high quality product.
That is why each bottle of our oil has its own story and passion to tell.
We aim for a genuine return to the origins: we look back to be able to see further ahead.
Are you curious to try it?
Write us a message by clicking on the "How to order" box ?
Beneficial effects
Polyphenols
Important is the polyphenol content, which are antioxidants, natural anti-inflammatories that favour the preservation of the oil and its organoleptic characteristics, but above all they have a beneficial effect on our organism: the reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Hydroxytyrosol
EVO oil is a panacea for the brain, fighting senile brain degeneration. Hydroxytyrosol, abundantly contained in olive oil, has strong anti-ageing and protective antioxidant power over neural cells.
Vitamin E
EVO oil contains a high amount of vitamin E, a natural antioxidant that can protect the heart, arteries and promote cell renewal, protecting the human body from the effects of free radicals.
Oleocanthal - Ibuprofen
Oleocanthal, contained as a phenolic compound in EVO oil, has anti-inflammatory properties like ibuprofen. It acts by inhibiting the action of enzymes that are involved in inflammation pathways, attenuates inflammation and increases associated pain sensitivity.
Oleic Acid
Oleic acid is a highly digestible monounsaturated fatty acid and has protective activity against vasculopathies and neoplasms by reducing total LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood.
How is it made?
The quality extra virgin olive oil is obtained from rigorously selected olives and a harvesting/milling process carried out with careful and meticulous care to maximize the quality of the product.
Olive harvesting is a very important stage in the production of quality oil, beginning around mid-October when the olives are still green-before the veraison stage-when they are rich in chlorophyll and antioxidant substances. Harvesting is done in two ways: by brushing, a process whereby the olives are picked by hand and then selected; by combing performed with the help of fixed brushes. The harvested olives are then transported immediately to the mill and in a few hours the pressing process begins.
The freshly picked olives undergo a meticulous process of defoliation, dry washing first - using slow washers - and then water, and finally drying and vibrating sieve allows the drupes to arrive at the mill perfectly cleansed of dust, insects, soil and organic residues that are naturally deposited during the months of ripening in the open air.
The milling is achieved through multiphase centrifugal extractors (no water added) with state-of-the-art machinery that maintains the low extraction temperature, around 25°C.The perfect ripening, the careful and selected harvesting, the low temperature of crushing and kneading and the modern extraction process help to enhance the quality of the oil (which is even richer in polyphenols) while preserving, at the same time, its nutraceutical properties capable of providing numerous health benefits.
After the filtering and decanting step, the oil is left to rest in stainless steel tanks in an oxygen-free environment (thanks to the insufflation of food-grade nitrogen) at a strictly controlled temperature. This allows the organoleptic characteristics of the product to remain unaltered, even months after pressing, gives the product a long shelf life and to reduces the risks of the onset of defects.
Before reaching your tables, the oil is bottled in a nitrogen-saturated, temperature-controlled environment in 0.5lt dark glass bottles.
Technical data sheets
How to order
In keeping with our tradition, oil is sold in multiples of Mezzi Cafisi (read the story of 'Menzu Cafìsu'). We therefore invite you to order our oil in multiples of 6 litres (12 bottles) so that we can keep this tradition alive.
For any information or to place an order, do not hesitate to contact us via WhatsApp by clicking on the button at the bottom right.
Thank you
Sebastiano Nastasi