Lentisk Oil

This product is not available for sale. It is used exclusively in the preparation of the dishes served at the agriturismo.

Lentisk oil, extracted from the plant of the same name (Pistacia lentiscus), is a product known since ancient times which in recent years has undergone an important rediscovery in the cosmetic, medical and food fields. Recent scientific studies are analysing the composition, nutritional and health properties of this precious oil, often confirming what has been handed down by folk medicine. Rich in essential fatty acids, it is being studied for use as an anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, healing, moisturizing and nourishing product for the skin.

In the past, lentisk oil was used as a cooking oil by poor farming communities, due to the difficulty of obtaining olives. With “l’ociu listincu” people used to fry fritters and dress pasta and vegetable soup; it was also used to fuel lamps.

Sardinian tradition prescribes its use as a remedy for numerous ailments: spots, acne, rheumatic pain, grazes.
In “The Blue Zones”, researcher Dan Buettner identifies Sardinia as one of the five areas in the world with the highest density of centenarians, who share (among other things) the intake of lentisk oil (in English “mastic oil”).
Regardless of the cosmetic and medicinal properties that are still the subject of important studies, this nectar from another time remains a tasty rarity at the table, rediscovered by cooks and starred chefs who use this precious seasoning in various fine-dining dishes.
Recently the cosmetics industry has also started important production, such as Chanel with its Blue Serum line.

THE PRODUCT

Agrisole has been producing lentisk oil since the beginning of its activity and has practically always used it to flavour some of the dishes offered in the tasting menu. Thanks to its strong, bold flavour, just a few drops are enough to season and give a touch of originality to any dish.

Processing procedure

The traditional processing method, which is also the most commonly used, involves extracting the oil using heat, through several boiling stages, first of the berries and then of the extract obtained.
For some years now, our farm has adopted a mechanical cold-pressing method using some specially modified machines which make it possible to obtain a higher quality product that preserves flavour and properties.

Below are some images of the processing procedure, both hot and cold.

The harvest

The lentisk (Pistacia lentiscus) harvest takes place in late autumn, when the berries are very ripe.

For the harvest, you take a lentisk branch in your hands and rub it, taking care not to damage the shrub and making sure that the berries fall into the basket.
The next step is to clean the lentisk, removing any remaining leaves and small twigs; the berries are then left to rest for a few days in large sacks. In this way they warm up and this helps to improve the quality of the final product.

HOT OIL EXTRACTION

After this period, the lentisk is placed in a cauldron full of water and boiled for about 60 minutes. It is then collected with a slotted spoon and passed through a press (in the past, once drained, it was put into linen bags; the bags were closed by twisting them two or three times around themselves and then pressing was carried out. For pressing, the full bags were placed in a concave container and pressed with the feet).
The extract obtained from pressing is poured into a large pot and brought back to a gentle boil; the pot must be placed slightly tilted to facilitate the collection of the oil. At this stage of processing, great care must be taken to avoid dangerous spills of the boiling liquid. The extract is then skimmed to remove the impurities that rise to the surface. As the oil appears on the surface, it is gently collected with spoons and ladles. The product is then strained, bottled and stored in a cool, dark place.

COLD OIL EXTRACTION

After the harvest, the lentisk is cleaned of any remaining leaves and twigs and left to rest for a few days in sacks.
It is then ground with a machine we have modified; the resulting pulp is pressed and the oil obtained passes through several filtration steps. A pure, high-quality oil is obtained, which is left to decant for a while in special demijohns before being stored in dedicated oil containers.

Useful links

Useful links for further information on this interesting product: