Before coming through Northland, New Zealand, I would have been surprised at just how many different kinds of things grow here.

Actually, after having been here 10 days, I’m still quite surprised.

One of the products that grows here locally is olives.

Mark and Nessy, owners of The J Taitokerau, bought Carrie some local olive oil to try. The olives are grown here locally, and the olive oil is bottled here locally as well.

The olive oil has a much different and distinct flavor to any other kind of olive oil I’ve ever had. It’s slightly bitter with a small bit of grassiness to it.

That might sound like a weird description for olive oil, but as long as you let go of preconceived notions of what olive oil “should” taste like, you’re likely to really enjoy the olive oil of Northland, New Zealand.

Once again, a big thank-you to Mark and Nessy of The J Taitokerau, for sharing the local knowledge and connections with us so that we could try Northland olives and olive oil.