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This is the sleepy history of olive oil, narrated by Jessica Gersel, written by Angela Wood.

Olive oil comes from a small, succulent fruit known as the olive, or by its Latin name, Olya, Europaya.

It has been part of the Mediterranean diet for centuries.

But where did the first wild olive trees grow?

Why did people begin pressing these odd little fruits to extract their oil? And how did the humble oil travel around the world, becoming the household

staple it is today.

We'll delve into these questions and more tonight.

So just relax and let your mind drift as we explore the sleepy history of olive oil.

It is thought that the first wild olive trees existed around 6,000 years ago, in Southeast Anatolia.

Anatolia was an area of Asia Minor, located on the border of Turkey and Syria.

During this time, dense green forests blanketed the landscapes, and wild olive trees grew abundantly, providing sustenance to humans, bird life and animals.

The olive trees were resilient and strong.

They were drought, pest and fire resistant,

and renowned for their longevity.

The olive tree later became known as the immortal tree. From Asia Minor, the olive

seeds were naturally dispersed into the environment by birds. The birds would travel to far-flung places,

instinctively dropping the seeds in locations suitable for new tree growth.

The seeds also reached Lebanon, the Levant, Crete by land, river and sea.

As new trees sprung to life across the eastern Mediterranean, they were cultivated

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