Foodies and chefs in Tucson have a new source for high-quality, extra virgin olive oil. Oils & Olives is a new gourmet marketplace and tasting room featuring a large selection of Arizona-made olive oils, tapenades, balsamic vinegars and other hand-crafted food products.
The main attraction at Oils & Olives is without a doubt the shop's signature selection of olive oils. The oils are produced at Queen Creek Olive Mill outside of Phoenix, which is Arizona's only working mill. More than 16 varieties of olives are grown on over 2,500 trees at the mill, which are used to create a diverse line-up of olive oils.
The shelves at Oils & Olives are lined with nearly every imaginable variety of olive oil. Some of the most unusual varieties include chocolate, bacon, Mexican lime, blood orange, vanilla bean, strawberry, fig and pomegranate olive oils. You'll also find more traditional varieties like fresh crushed basil, rosemary and roasted garlic olive oils.
Get a taste of Arizona-made extra virgin olive oils at Oils & Olives, a new Tucson boutique and tasting room — Photo courtesy of Oils & Olives
Some of the other products for sale at Oils & Olive include jars of stuffed olives, spicy beans, tapenades and spreads. You'll also find gourmet herbs, spices, sauces, condiments, coffee, pasta, spreads, crackers and sweets. There are also natural pet products and cookbooks for sale. The shop also carries an extensive selection of local and direct import fine wines.
Oils & Olives also has a featured line of all-natural bath and body products. These products are made using extra virgin olive oil, which Oils & Olives says is a healthy and natural alternative to many commercially available, chemical-laden skin products.
Choose from a selection of lightly scented body oils infused with orange, lavender and rose. Or, try the fruit- and candy-flavored lip balms, natural soaps, body butters, scrubs and shaving creams.
If you love the taste of Queen Creek Olive Mill's olive oils, Oils & Olives sells beautifully packed gift boxes to give to family and friends back home. You can choose from assembled sampler packs of featured olive oils, tapenades and spreads. Or you can build your own gift box from the store's huge selection.
Home cooks and foodies of all stripes will love browsing the impressive selection of hand-crafted, Arizona-made food products at Oils and Olives. The store had its soft opening this month, with a big grand opening celebration currently in the works.
Oils & Olives already has two popular retail locations in Phoenix. This newest store location is inside the La Encantada Shopping Center in Tucson's scenic foothills area.