Olive Oil Soap

Palestinians are as particular about their choice of olive oil as the French or Italians are about their wines. The oil from Ramallah is light and a little bitter, while oil from Beit Jala is heavier and bitter like freshly pickled olives. Oils for consumption is usually from the first cold pressing. 

The Palestinian town of Nablus has long been known throughout the Middle East for its large-scale production of olive oil soap. In homes older women are traditionally in charge of making olive oil soap. Today, many Palestinian families still use their grandmother's handmade soap, made with leftover oil from pervious years after a new harvest brings freshly pressed olive oil to the family kitchen.