At the heart of the company – Olimega

Does camelina ring a bell? Well, few people know what it is, but that's starting to change with the arrival on the market of camelina oil . produced by the Olimega family business.

Perfect for cooking, marinades and vinaigrettes, find out what's behind this vegetable oil that beats other oils on the market hands down.

If we talk about camelina to Chantal Van Winden, it is with passion that she will share her knowledge of this plant with you. It is that for the president and general manager of Oliméga , camelina produces the best edible oil that exists in the world.

“In 2007, we started growing – camelina – and then after a wave of tests we realized that it was very good for your health. So we said to ourselves that we had to put it on the market, ”she shares.

It was therefore in May 2015 that camelina oil Et voilà! hit the shelves.

“We choose it for the health, we like it for the taste!”

This oleaginous plant native to Northern Europe (and which is part of the cabbage family) has several virtues, including that of being “very, very” rich in omega-3, according to the words of the president.

“Which means that in a teaspoon of oil Et voilà!, we find the dose of omega-3 required for a day, reveals the latter. It is an essential fat and it is not found in other oils apart from flaxseed oil, which is less interesting in terms of taste,” she adds.

In addition to omega-3s, "camelina oil has a perfect ratio of omega-6 to omega-9 and a high content of vitamin E. Which naturally gives it a long shelf life," reads- on the company's website.

Why is camelina oil the best?

Sustainably grown in Quebec, the oil from camelina does not require processing other than cold pressing.

“Omega-3s are reputed to prevent cardiovascular diseases thanks, among other things, to their role in protecting the arteries and the heart and to their recognized anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects. In addition, omega-3s have a protective effect on the brain. – Read on the Olimega website

Another fact, “Camelina oil tastes great and has the highest smoke point. This means that it can be cooked at temperatures up to 475 degrees Fahrenheit,” says Chantal.

Camelina oil can therefore be cooked in several ways, “as much in a salad, in vinaigrette, as in a marinade or in cooking oil,” the entrepreneur tells us. This oil has a silky taste that can be somewhere between nutty and sesame,” she says.

“My favorite is grilled asparagus with a little sea salt and camelina oil! It's very good!” she said.

And it's true that it must be delicious, because "several restaurants, including great chefs from here, have started cooking our oil," she reveals.

In addition, Et Voilà! won several accolades in their very first year of existence:

• Food innovation by the CTAQ , November 2015
• Finalist Dux Contest , new product, January 2016
• SIAL Innovation Finalist, March 2016

So what are you waiting for?

You too can cook camelina oil. The Oliméga site is also full of inspiring recipes, including that of the duck burger with camelina . Yum!

Find out more about the inspiring company Oliméga by consulting its Signé Local profile .

Main photo credit: Olimega