Everything you need to know about where Palestinian olive oil comes from, how it is made, why it matters, and how to buy it ethically in the UK.
What is Palestinian extra virgin olive oil? What does it taste like? How is it harvested? Is it fair trade certified? Is it organic? Who are the farmers? What impact does buying it have? How is the olive oil getting out of Palestine? Where can I buy it in the UK? How should I store it? I want to shop now!
About the oil
What is Palestinian extra virgin olive oil?
Palestinian extra virgin olive oil is produced from olives grown on ancient groves across the West Bank, particularly in the hills around Nablus, Ramallah, and Jenin. Olive cultivation in Palestine stretches back thousands of years — the trees themselves are central to Palestinian culture, identity, and livelihood. Zaytoun’s oil is first cold pressed, meaning it is extracted without heat to preserve the full flavour and nutritional content of the fruit.
What does Palestinian olive oil taste like?
Zaytoun’s Palestinian extra virgin olive oil has a distinctively warm, peppery finish with green, grassy notes and a full, rounded mouthfeel. It is bolder and more characterful than many supermarket olive oils, which are often blended to achieve a milder, more neutral flavour. Great Taste Award judges described it as having “gentle pepperiness, green flavours and a great mouthfeel” — it was awarded a Great Taste star in 2022.
How is Palestinian olive oil harvested?
The olives are hand-picked by Palestinian farming families each autumn, using methods passed down through generations. Pickers spread nets beneath the trees and use rakes or their hands to bring olives down gently, reducing damage to the fruit. This labour-intensive approach — rather than mechanical harvesting — preserves the quality of the olives and supports the livelihoods of small-scale farming families. The groves are rain-fed, relying on natural rainfall rather than irrigation.
Ethics & sourcing
Is Zaytoun’s Palestinian olive oil fair trade certified?
Zaytoun’s olive oil has historically held both Fairtrade and Soil Association organic certification. The certified version is temporarily unavailable due to security challenges related to the situation in Palestine, but the oil continues to come from the same trusted farmer partners. Zaytoun is a social enterprise — 100% of profits are reinvested into its work supporting Palestinian communities — and fair and transparent pricing with farmers is central to how the company operates, regardless of certification status.
Is Palestinian olive oil organic?
Palestinian small-scale farmers have traditionally farmed without synthetic pesticides or fertilisers, relying on natural, low-input methods that align with organic principles. Zaytoun’s oil normally carries the Soil Association organic certification. Even where formal certification is temporarily unavailable (see above), the farming practices remain consistent with organic standards. The groves are rain-fed and hand-tended, not managed with industrial agricultural inputs.
Who grows Zaytoun’s olive oil?
Zaytoun works directly with small-scale Palestinian farming families in the West Bank who are members of Palestine Fair Trade Association. Their ancestors have tended the same olive groves for generations. Many of these farmers face significant challenges — including restricted access to their land under Israeli military occupation — and the olive harvest represents a critical source of income and cultural continuity. By purchasing Zaytoun olive oil, you are directly supporting these farmers for whom export is a vital lifeline, and in turn their communities.
What impact does buying Palestinian olive oil have?
Buying Palestinian olive oil through Zaytoun has a direct and meaningful impact. It provides fair income to farming families who depend on the harvest. It helps sustain ancient groves that are part of Palestinian cultural heritage. It connects UK consumers with communities under occupation, creating economic solidarity. Zaytoun reinvests 100% of its profits into its mission, and has supported tree-planting, community resilience projects, and awareness campaigns since 2004.
How is Palestinian olive oil getting out of the West Bank?
The situation in the West Bank is constantly changing – with settler violence and destruction increasing dramatically. Olive trees are destroyed, farmers and their families are harassed and attacked, and often prevented from getting to their farms to work. Despite this most farmer members of the Palestine Fair Trade Association have, so far, managed to harvest at least some of their olives and get them to the presses at our supplier Canaan Palestine. The oil is then loaded on lorries and freighted out of the West Bank to the coast, from where it leaves the country by boat. So far freight moves more easily across the country than individuals trying to travel from one town to another.
Buying & using
Where can I buy Palestinian olive oil in the UK?
Zaytoun’s extra virgin olive oil is available to order online via its website, and is stocked by independent retailers, wholefood shops, and community distributors across the UK. You can find your nearest stockist using the Zaytoun stockist finder. It is available in sizes from 250ml to 5 litres, making it suitable for everyday cooking as well as catering or wholesale use.
How should I store Palestinian olive oil?
Store olive oil in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight and heat sources — a kitchen cupboard is ideal. Avoid storing it next to the hob or on a windowsill, as light and heat accelerate oxidation and degrade the flavour. Extra virgin olive oil does not need to be refrigerated. Once opened, Zaytoun’s oil is best used within 12 months, though it will remain good beyond that if stored correctly. The peppery character softens slightly as the oil ages.
Ready to try it?
Shop Zaytoun’s extra virgin olive oil — hand-picked, rain-fed, and ethically sourced from the West Bank.