In Jordan, Amelia Bilbeisi Produces The World’s Top Olive Oil

Going Places

Welcome back to Going Places! Today, we have a conversation with Amelia Bilbeisi, co-founder of Maida Olive Oil, known as Onsuri Olive Oil in North America. Amelia produces one of the world's most premium olive oils on a farm deep inside a Jordanian desert. Tasting this olive oil, designated ultra premium quality, a coveted grade only 5 percent of the world's olive oil producers meet, has opened my eyes and my palette to what quality olive oil should taste like.

Olive oil is central to Jordanian culture, and today, Amelia and her team are well on their way to elevating its status worldwide. To get the taste of this incredible oil, head to onsurioliveoil.com. And be sure to use code GOINGPLACES, all caps, to get 10 percent off your purchase. Onsuri ships free to North America.

This episode and the entire season is brought to you by Visit Jordan. Be sure to visit myjordanjourney.com to learn more about Jordan.

Get more information on the episode page.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Significance of olive oil in Jordanian culture
• How ONSURI became a top olive oil producer
• How to tell if the extra virgin olive oil is of high quality
• Challenges affecting olive oil production (e.g., climate change)
• Traditional vs. modern approaches in agriculture
• The role of women in olive oil production
• Where olive trees come from
• Cultural significance of olive oil in the Middle East
• Sustainability practices on Amelia's farm
• ONSURI's environmental sustainability efforts (it's carbon-negative)
• Amelia's journey to becoming an olive oil sommelier
• Benefits and versatility of extra virgin olive oil in cooking and baking
• Varieties of olive oil offered by Onsuri and their recommended uses
• Tours and visits to Onsuri Farm for travelers
• What it's like for Amelia to be a part of her father's dream

Featured on the show:

To get a taste of this incredible oil, head to onsurioliveoil.com and use code GOINGPLACES to get 10% off your purchase. Onsuri ships free to North America!

Get more information at:

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Going Places with Yulia Denisyuk is a show that sparks a better understanding of people and places near and far by fostering a space for real conversations to occur. Each week, we sit down with travelers, journalists, creators, and people living and working in destinations around the world. Hosted by Yulia Denisyuk, an award-winning travel journalist, photographer, and writer who's worked with National Geographic, The New York Times, BBC Travel, and more.

Learn more about our show at goingplacesmedia.com.

Our theme music this season, Abbad El Shams, is provided by Rawan Roshni, a Palestinian/Balkan singer based in Jordan.

Mentioned in this episode:

Visit Jordan

This episode and the rest of this season are brought to you by Visit Jordan. Jordan is a beautiful country in the Middle East that has something for everyone: in a relatively small area, it packs diverse landscapes like the Mediterranean forests of Ajloun, deep canyons in Wadi Dana, the Mars-like desert of Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth. Let Jordan be your host for your Middle Eastern adventures. Go to Visit Jordan to learn more.

Visit Jordan