Olive oil from indigenous Maltese trees will be available for tasting today for the first time in centuries after the 2,000-year-old plant variety was revived through grafting.

This fully Maltese olive oil, known as the Bidni variety, will be one of the main attractions at the Żejt iż-Żejtun cultural evening to be held this evening and tomorrow morning in the village named after the popular Mediterranean fruit.

Olive oil expert Sam Cremona started working on re-creating the pure oil in 2002 through the Primo project for the revival of the indigenous Maltese olive.

The new olive plants were created through germoplast and grafting techniques, from the Bidni olive variety found at Bidnija.

Now that the plant has produced fruit, the olives were pressed and their oil can finally be enjoyed, Mr Cremona explained.

Unique oils from Greece and Italy will also be available for tasting as representatives from the two countries, and Spain, are currently in Malta for a seminar.

Mr Cremona added that tonight, people will also witness other olives being pressed.

“We want to show people that, olive oil is made purely out of olives and there are no additives or fermentation process as is the case with wine,” he said.

Locals dressed in traditional costumes will carry basketfuls of olives and head to the square where the olives will be pressed, Żejtun mayor Joe Attard explained.

Activities, that will take place this evening and tomorrow morning, will be spread throughout the village. Events will include street theatre, music, historical re-enactments and displays of traditional Maltese cuisine.

Places of historic and cultural interest will be open and cab and train rides will link the areas making them more accessible.

“Żejtun has been associated with olive tree culture and its by-products since Punic times. Proof of this are the archaeological remains associated with olive pressing in the precincts of the town’s secondary school,” the mayor said.

“The olive tree is once more recapturing its original undisputed position as the protagonist of our landscape. Loved and respected and a universal symbol of peace, the olive tree is ours to protect and cherish which ultimately is what Żejt iż- Żejtun is all about,” he said.