A lasting friendship between two families from the Alpilles. Emilie still remembers the Phoenix dish she used to enjoy on Sundays with her brother and parents on the terrace of Taberna Romana in Glanum. Le Castelas and Taberna Romana represent a bond, a mutual admiration between two families raised in the Alpilles. Creating a product together was an obvious choice, but it took the new generation of Moulin CastelaS and a stroke of luck for this long-standing collaboration to produce a bottle! This autumn, in the midst of harvest, a chance encounter led Mireille and Emilie to enthusiastically embrace a project – but there are no coincidences, only destined meetings! – Mireille, the coquina (Roman cook), reveals a treasure to us: Apicius’s recipe for perfumed oil, which she has just rediscovered. Emilie’s eyes light up, and she is thrilled. It must be created together, and it must be done RIGHT AWAY! It was unexpected, but there was not a minute to lose; creativity does not wait, the harvest is here, and the mill is running!

This is a bold oil; first, taste it on its own, Roman style, on lentils or chickpeas, to get acquainted, then let yourself travel to another era. It is produced once a year, in November, by milling the olives from our orchards with freshly picked bay leaves and the roots of Cyperus and Elecampane. Cyperus and Elecampane are two plants that grow around the Mediterranean basin. Cyperus, with its sweet, almost sugary aromas, brings notes of almond and chestnut to this culinary preparation. Elecampane, on the other hand, provides more pronounced, aniseed aromas with hints of fennel. The marriage of these plants is simply astonishing.

Apicius olive oil is best enjoyed with small savory or sweet dishes: chickpeas, peas, or split peas, fish prepared with grilled apples or poached pears, and why not, simply polenta. This oil also pairs wonderfully with Parmesan cheese. For those with hearty appetites and a fondness for Roman culture, you can now don your togas and cook as in antiquity. We hope this olive oil will make you lose your Latin!