A local beer producer has partnered with olive growers from Coldiretti, a leading farmers' association, to produce the Olea Tantrum near Rome. Olive leaves are the main ingredient.
Coming from eastern Lazio, parts of which are struggling to recover from a long series of earthquakes that flattened entire villages and destroyed most of the local economy five years ago, residents see the announcement as a fresh start.
A Coldiretti said that producing the beer requires hundreds of kilos of olive leaves. The leaves come directly from the pruning of trees located near the brewery. THE association added that beer is an example of circular economy and a local specialty.
“In recent years, we have worked to produce our beers using only 100% Italian ingredients; most of it is produced [by the brewery],” said Claudio Lorenzini, owner of the brewery High altitudeOn Rieti, and inventor of Birra Olea. “At the same time, we focus on beers that can represent our territory”, says Lorenzini.
The flavor profile of the final product features a smoky flavor, which the brewery attributes to olive leaves. The use of the leaves in the fermentation process also means that the beer contains polyphenols, powerful antioxidants.
Furthermore, Coldietti added that the leaves play an important role in balancing the bitterness and acidity of the beer. Other more traditional ingredients are water, barley malt, wheat malt, hops and yeast.
The new product “represents a local delicacy that meets our quality standards and specificity parameters,” wrote David Granieri, the president of Coldiretti Lazio. “[It’s] an experience that had the best results; something new both for Lazio [Lazio] and for the entire country.”
“Craft beer is a product that is expanding rapidly in both reputation and consumption,” he added.
The region where producers produce the renowned Sabina extra virgin olive oil, which has certification of Protected Designation of Origin (DOP) Within the European Union, it stretches for approximately 60 kilometers from Rieti to Rome.
