As mentioned in previous articles, Palestinian fair trade products are widely available in Montreal however, the questions arise: are they worth it and where can one purchase them?

To make a long story short, it is best to actually give a thorough and just review of these products before anything. Do these products give you a bang for your buck or will your wallet fall out of luck? Truth be told, I would suggest deconstructing each product one by one with a rather tenacious and critical mind.

The Zeitouna Olive Oil – Chef Brosky’s View.

To make a long story short, all the products are amazing, plain and simple. Let us begin with the Olive oil. The olive oil is very clear. The first thing that I do when I look at any oil is actually evaluate the colour and its pigment. Like good wine, olive oil has to have a nice texture and sometimes this is almost impossible to see when the bottle is thick and of a different colour. Despite the bottle being thick or dark, one must see the colour of the olive oil. Zeitouna olive oil is actually very properly packaged. A dark bottle, a bottle wrapped in foil, a bottle packaged in cardboard or wooden box is a MUST in order to preserve the quality of the olive oil because it is a MUST to keep it away from the direct light. The hue of olive oil has to be right, I will explain later but some people think or conceive that olive oil has to be a specific colour, this is untrue however, one should beware of the claim that green olive oil is best, simply untrue statement. Now, unlike good wine where the older the wine is the better it is right? Olive oil is simply the opposite of wine. Good olive oil does not have a very lengthy shelf life.

The first thing I did was investigate the Zeitouna bottle’s expiry date. It is very important to find the information concerning the date of harvest and juxtapose it with the expiration date. The reason why one must do this is very simple: olive oil in itself will undeniably lose its fruitfulness and flavour as it ages and after maximum of two years from the harvest it will be subject to oxidation and hence become rancid. This is not something new, the ancient Greeks knew this and so this is simply a 3,000 year-old pre-understood concept (and like Biggie said: “…and if you don’t know, now you know…”)

What is also commendable about the Zeitouna product is that the olives in themselves are all natural, in other words, not laden with pesticides. Personally, I was uncertain if pesticides and other chemicals are sprayed on olives so I actually had to delve into the matter. Beyond this, the olive oil itself is actually cold pressed. Cold pressing the olive oil connotes that the extra virgin olive oil has its original flavours preserved which hence leaves its nutritional value untampered with. By consequence, all of the aforementioned brings about a specific pigment and flavour to the fore. The olive oil itself carries a nice pale texture that is obviously yellow and finishes off in the mouth with a rather spicy aftertaste which compliments the za’atar well that is also provided by MAP (Medical Aid Palestine).

In context of olive oil colour, texture, pigment and hue, truth be told, official olive oil tasters always make use of dark viles or glasses so that their sense is not influenced by the colour. Many times oils too green are chemically manipulated because the customer belief is the more
green the colour is the more better the oil will be. This is absolutely false!

Keep in mind that extra virgin olive oil should smell and taste of the fruit from which it is sourced. What this means is that it should smell and taste like olives and nothing more. In essence, one should expect a fruity and olivey flavour, khulus. Moreover, from a olfactory point of view, olive oil should smell something like olive, fresh cut grass, aromatic herbs or fresh fruit. The Zeitouna product actually embodies all of the positive attributes. In essence, I did not cross any form, fashion manifestation of rancid, old, metallic, musty-humid, fusty or winey flavours (note: I HAVE NEVER TASTED WINE THOUGH).

The Chef Brosky Review: I give Zeitouna Olive Oil a 9.1/10.

Chef Brosky in Ramadan, the Medjoul dates are a must have for all.

Za’atar, Dates and Soap – The Big Brosky Review

The dates are Medjoul dates and honestly, I had no clue in the world what “Medjoul” was. The dates are from Jericho and my first impression from seeing them was their size. These dates are huge. They are very large and will take three bites to finish if you don’t eat them in one shot like a Big Brosky does. The dates are tender, very tender. They are not dry but they are not excessively sweet like sticky Algerian and Tunisian dates. Algerian and Tunisian dates are much smaller and much more stickier in which they stick to the packaging. These dates are non-stick. The tenderness is a delight. My review of the dates is based on many years of Ramadan and feasting on thousands of dates in my lifetime. As result, these dates are worth it, do open your wallet for these and invite them to your kitchen table.

The soap. The soap is olive oil based and I never knew such a thing existed. I did not get a chance to photograph it and I did not get a chance to even try it. I am nevertheless a person who always washes his hands with soap but sincerely cannot give a further review of the soap. Simply put, I did not get to try it as of yet, it’s actually still on my desk in front of me.

Za’atar. Aight homies, Za’atar, for those who dont know, is a mixy mixy of thyme, oregano, basil, savory, salt, dried sumac and sesame seeds. Blend all the stuff aforementioned and youve got za’atar. The za’atar available at MAP is imported the villages of Anza and Maythaloun in Jenin. This za’atar is simply dope and compliments the olive oil nicely. The za’atar and the olive oil are actually a marriage here, they were simply destined to be together in your mouth. I recommend getting some French bread or just build your own dopeness by getting some Afghani Naan and making your own za’atar bread. Be aware, real za’tar does not have any citric acid and no parsley. The Za’atar being sold here did not have any and got extra Brownie Brosky points.

The Chef Brosky Review:

I give Medjoul Dates a 9.6/10.

Za’atar: 8.8/10

Locations in Montreal where to Find these Exact Products:

MONTRÉAL

Marché Jean-Talon

Alfalfa
7061 ave. Casgrain
Montréal (Québec)
H2S 3A3
Tel. : (514) 272-0683

Aliments Merci
282 Place du Marché-du-Nord
Montréal (Québec)
H2S 1A1
Tel. : (514) 274-3962

Fromagerie Hamel
220, rue Jean-Talon Est
Montréal (Québec)
H2R 1S7
Tel. : (514) 272-1161

L’Olivier
260 Place du Marché-du-Nord
Montréal (Québec)
H2S 1A1
Tel. : (514) 278-8910

Rosemont Petite-Patrie

Aide médicale pour la Palestine
5722 rue Saint-André
Montréal (Québec)
H2S 2K1
Tel. : (514) 843-7875

Fleur de Sel
2381, rue Beaubien, Est
Montréal, Québec
H2G 1N3
Tél. : 514-725-9769

Les fromages de choix
2101, Beaubien Est
Montréal, (Québec)
H2G 1M5
Tél. : 514-729-2002

Marché Asselin
1284 Beaubien Est
Montréal (Québec)
H2S 1T9
Tél. : 514-271- 7720

Mondiana
1130, rue Bélanger
Montréal, QC
H2S 1H4
Tél. : 514-272-9702

Olives et café noir
1109, rue Beaubien Est
Montréal (Québec)
H2S 1T6
Tél. : 514-274- 43666

Pomme d’Api
2599, boulevard Rosemont
Montréal (Québec)
H1Y 1K6
Tél. : 514- 727-1437

Pousse l’Ananas
6346, rue Saint-Hubert,
Montréal (Québec)
H2S 2M2
Tél. : 514-270-6873

Plateau Mont-Royal

Bio-T-Iful
104 Laurier Ouest
Montréal (Québec)
H2T 2N7
Tél. : 514-807-0716

Bioterre
201, rue Saint-Viateur Ouest
Montréal (Québec)
H2T 2L6
Tél. : 514- 278-3377

Capucine et Tournesol
226 rue Bernard Ouest
Montréal (Québec)
H2T 2K4
Tel. : (514) 277-0232

Club Organic
4341, rue Frontenac
Montréal (Québec)
H2H 2M4
514-523-0223

Folies en vrac
1307 Mont-Royal est
Montréal (Québec)
H2L 2H2
Tel. : (514) 523-4622

Fouvrac
1451, avenue Laurier Est
Montréal (Québec)
H2J 1H8
Tel. : (514) 522-9993

Fruiterie Du Plateau
515, rue Roy est
Montréal, Qc.
H2L 1C9
Tél. : 514-842-1729

Fruiterie Muscat
5000 St-Denis
Montréal (Québec)
H2J 2L8
Tel. : (514) 284-6377

Fruits du jour
1655 Mont-Royal Est
Montréal (Québec)
H2J 1Z6
Tel. : (514) 522-0555

Kif-Kif – import
30, Mont-Royal ouest
Montréal (Québec)
H2T 2S1
Tél. : 514- 844- 3021

Marché Lobo
3509 av. du Parc
Montréal (Québec)
H2X 2H8
Tel. : (514) 843-7737

PA supermarché
5029 avenue du Parc
Montréal (Québec)
H2V 4E9
Tel. : (514) 273-8782

Ville Marie / Centre ville

Folies en vrac
1254, rue Sainte Catherine est
Montréal (Québec)
H2L 2H2
Tel. : (514) 526-3689

Le frigo vert
2130 Mackay
Montréal (Québec)
H3G 2J1
Tél. : 514-848-7886

PA supermarché
1420, rue du Fort
Montréal (Québec)
H3H 2C4
Tél. :514-932-0922

Hochelaga-Maisonneuve / Anjou

Essentiellement Sol
3878, rue Ontario est
Montréal, Qc
Tél. : 514-223-2231

Terre à Soi
4696, rue Ste-Catherine Est
Montréal (Québec)
H1V 1Y9
Tél. : 514-759-8772

Marché Maisonneuve

Aliments Merci
4445 Ontario Est
Montréal (Québec)
H1V 3V3
Tel. : (514) 899-1066

Fromagerie Maisonneuve
4445 Ontario Est
Montréal (Québec)
H1V 1K5
Tel. : (514) 251-9516

Les Halles d’Anjou

Le petit Olivier
7500 Boul.Galeries d’Anjou
Montréal (Québec)
H1M 3M4
Tél. :514-354-2983

Outremont

Gourmet Laurier
1042 Laurier O
Outremont (Québec)
H2V 2K8
Tél. : (514) 274-5601

Le Serpolet
1455, ave. Van Horne
Outremont, Qc
H2V 1L3
Tél. 514-495-1661

Thuy Mission santé
1138, Bernard ouest
Outremont (Québec)
H2V 1V3
Tel. : (514) 272-9386

Sud-Ouest

Marché Atwater

Fromagerie Atwater
134, avenue Atwater
Montréal (Québec)
H4C 2G3
Tél. :514-932-4653

Vrac du marché
138, avenue Atwater
Montréal (Québec)
H4C 2G3
Tél. :514-933-0202

Ailleurs dans le Sud-Ouest

Branche d’olivier
4342, rue Wellington
Verdun (Québec)
H4G 1W4
Tél. : 514-768-5930

Côte-des-Neiges / N.D.G.

Bistro -Librairie Olivieri
5219, Côte-des-Neiges
Montréal, Qc.
H3T 1Y1
Tél. : 514-739-3639

Coop. Maison verte
5785 Sherbrooke Ouest
Montréal (Québec)
H4A 1X2
Tel. : (514) 489-8000

Exo Fruits
5192, chemin de la cote des neiges
Montréal (Québec)
H3T 1X8
Tél. : 514-738-1384

Marché du village
5415, ave. Gatineau
Montréal (Québec)
H3T 1X4
Tél. : 514-735-3611

Nature Santé 2000
5006 Queen Mary
Montréal (Québec)
H3W 1X2
Tél. : 514 738-8646

Ahuntsic/Cartierville/Villeray

Ouest de Montréal

Westmount

Ville St-Laurent

Adonis
2001 Sauvé O
Montréal (Québec)
H4N 1L8
Tél. : 514-382-8606

L’Île-Perrot

Pierrefonds

Panier-Santé Simplement Naturel
15744, boulevard Pierrefonds
Pierrefonds (Québec)
H9H 3P6
514-620-8069

Rive-Sud de Montréal

Fruiterie Saint Hubert
6400, chemin Chambly
Saint Hubert (Québec)
J3Y 3R5
450-445-8808

Fruits et Légumes Taschereau
559, chemin de Saint-Jean
La Prairie (Québec)
J5R 2L2
450-659-6449

Brossard

Brûleries Lacoursière
3870 rue Isabelle
Brossard (Québec)
J4Y 2R3
Tel. : (450) 676-7311

Naturaliste en vrac
Place Portobello
7250 Boul. Taschereau
Brossard (Québec)
J4W 1M9
Tel. : (450) 465-9646
Store 44-A (en face de Loto Québec)

Longueuil

Avril Supermarché Santé
1185, Chemin du Tremblay
Longueuil
J4N 1R4
Tél. : 450-448-5515

Rive-Nord

Fromagerie La table ronde
317 route 158
Ste-Sophie (Québec)
J5J 2V1
Tél. : 450-530-2436

Laval

Adonis
705, Curé-Labelle
Laval (Québec)
H7V 2T3
Tél. : 450-978-2333

Viva Marché Éco-Bio
3535 autoroute (440)
Laval O, Chomedey (Québec)
H7P 4G9
450-681-4449