Food & Drink News ~ Spanish exports under threat as drought continues to affect it�s wine and olive production

Spain�s agriculture production, particularly it�s grape and olive crops are coming under threat as around half the country is on alert of drought.The Spanish reservoirs are standing  at 56 percent, the lowest since June 1995, and the summer is only just getting started. This April was the hottest this century, and only heavy rainfall in the autumn could help.save the olive crop.

Spain  is the world's leading olive producer and provides 50% of the global supply of olive oil and 35 percent of table olives. Last year�s poor harvest throughout the Mediterranean in general reduced the world production of olive oil by 11%. Producers in the province of Ja�n in Andalucia one of the main areas for Spanish olive crops, are warning that if the shortage of rain continues, it will have serious consequences on the harvest which has suffered already due to a few dry years. As a result, olive oil prices have surged by almost a quarter this year.

The country�s wine producers are also hoping for rain, only a break in the continual dry weather could help a year that has already seen production drop of up to 50% in some regions. It is almost a certainty that the volume produced will be down, but without some cooler weather in August the period when the grapes come to maturity, the overall quality of the wine is also in danger.

Food & Drink ~ Olive oil the essential ingredient of the Mediterranean diet

In Spain, where olive oil is such an essential ingredient, like all over the Mediterranean, absolutely everything gets fried in this precious commodity Some of the tastiest Spanish cooking includes; crackling fried anchovies, crispy croquettes, and golden fried potatoes. Foods cooked in olive oil absorb less oil than if fried in other oils, this means that the oil goes further and makes the fried food less greasy. After all olive oil is an essential part of the authentic Spanish flavour.

" ...the essential ingredient of the Mediterranean diet "

Fish or chicken need to be lightly coated in flour or some kind of light batter, but starchy foods like potatoes don�t need any coating.To fry in olive oil the ideal temperature needs to be 180�C / 360�F. The oil will be hot, but not smoking. At this temperature a crust forms around the food so the oil doesn�t saturate the food and also means it doesn't brown too quickly, allowing the interior of the food to cook thoroughly. Ideally cook the food in small batches to ensure that it is all cooked through and evenly.