Years ago, shortly after my sister moved to Miami (20, 25 years ago?),
she sent us a bottle of oil. I think she said it was from the middle
east but I'm seriously unsure of that.

This oil was a 60/40 blend of olive and grape seed oils. In the oil was
several sticks of herb one of which looked like a stick of oregano, a
couple of leaves, and a slurry of what I guess were herbs and possibly
pepper corns. I don't remember seeing garlic. I'm guessing the bottle
was half a liter square and about 10" tall. The label was green with
white border tombstone shape with mainly black lettering, I believe it
may have had gold lettering on the side labels. I don't remember the
language the label was printed in, could have been Arabic, Hebrew,
Hispanic, .....

This oil was rather tangy. Hot wouldn't be an understatement. And Clean.
I think that was it's most endearing quality.

For whatever reason I didn't touch this oil for several years. Then one
day it came down to this oil or crisco to fry something in.

Oh My!

Added a real nice flavor to meats no matter what they were or how
cooked, it was all the dressing a salad needed, I'd even fry eggs in it.

It didn't take long for the label to loosen and disappear. Half way
through the bottle I started looking for more. Since it had been several
years my sister didn't remember giving it to me even though she raved
about it when she gave it to me. Let me tell you, I babied the rest of
the oil for quite a while, about two years.

I've been looking for this oil, or something similar for the last 15
years or so. I tried recreating this oil but I couldn't keep out of it
long enough for it to properly age.

I know I'm asking for a miracle but does this sound remotely familiar to
anyone? (The oil, not the story. We all have these types of stories)

I know these types of oils are common, I see them every time I go to the
store, but I'm not into paying $10 for 6 oz of oil and have it be
absolutely wrong. None of them look quite right. I guess it's time to
bite the bullet and start shelling out the cash. maybe slip a bottle or
two into the O'l Ladies shopping basket when she's not looking.

Mark wrote:

> I know I'm asking for a miracle but does this sound remotely familiar to
> anyone? (The oil, not the story. We all have these types of stories)

Ah, yes. That is a perfect description of j/nghlm (in Arabic,
I don't know the English translation). I used to buy that regularly
until two years ago when one of its ingredients, mustard oil, was
banned for containing too much erucic acid. Just before the ban,
I bought a full case of 36 bottles -- and I still have at least 20 of
them -- but I'm not interested in selling. I must admit I was tempted
to put them up for sale when I saw a bottle sold on Ebay for $201,
but then I figured that would probably flood the market and the
price would drop. Now, if someone offered me $4000 for my
entire remaining supply . . .

On Wed, 29 Oct 2003 01:50:51 GMT, Mark Thorson >
wrote:

>Mark wrote:
>
>> I know I'm asking for a miracle but does this sound remotely familiar to
>> anyone? (The oil, not the story. We all have these types of stories)
>
>Ah, yes. That is a perfect description of j/nghlm (in Arabic,
>I don't know the English translation). I used to buy that regularly
>until two years ago when one of its ingredients, mustard oil, was
>banned for containing too much erucic acid. Just before the ban,
>I bought a full case of 36 bottles -- and I still have at least 20 of
>them -- but I'm not interested in selling. I must admit I was tempted
>to put them up for sale when I saw a bottle sold on Ebay for $201,
>but then I figured that would probably flood the market and the
>price would drop. Now, if someone offered me $4000 for my
>entire remaining supply . . .

There was a story in the paper last month about a 5-year old in
...Wisconsin(?) that got into the stash of pre-ban j/nghlm. The
parents were charged with child endangerment, or something of the
sort. It was a sad story.

-sw

Steve Wertz wrote:
>
>>Mark wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I know I'm asking for a miracle but does this sound remotely familiar to
>>>anyone? (The oil, not the story. We all have these types of stories)
>>
>>Ah, yes. That is a perfect description of j/nghlm (in Arabic,
>>I don't know the English translation).


No kidding, I could have gotten this oil as recently as a couple of
years ago? And I missed it because they have banned it's import?

Could you give me the address of the importer? Mayhaps I could work
something out with their contact, have it sent direct to me.

This is so exciting, I finally have a lead.

Since this is apparently an Arab country do you think it would have to
be routed through Europe, probably * Elbonia * ??

In article >,
Mark > wrote:

> Years ago, shortly after my sister moved to Miami (20, 25 years ago?),
> she sent us a bottle of oil. I think she said it was from the middle
> east but I'm seriously unsure of that.
>
> This oil was a 60/40 blend of olive and grape seed oils. In the oil was
> several sticks of herb one of which looked like a stick of oregano, a
> couple of leaves, and a slurry of what I guess were herbs and possibly
> pepper corns. I don't remember seeing garlic. I'm guessing the bottle
> was half a liter square and about 10" tall.

The litre/liter is a measure of volume. I'm pretty sure you didn't mean
half a metre square. How many inches along one side?

Miche

--
If you want to end war and stuff you got to sing loud.
-- Arlo Guthrie, "Alice's Restaurant"

In article >,
Steve Wertz > wrote:

> On Wed, 29 Oct 2003 01:50:51 GMT, Mark Thorson >
> wrote:
>
> >Mark wrote:
> >
> >> I know I'm asking for a miracle but does this sound remotely familiar to
> >> anyone? (The oil, not the story. We all have these types of stories)
> >
> >Ah, yes. That is a perfect description of j/nghlm (in Arabic,
> >I don't know the English translation). I used to buy that regularly
> >until two years ago when one of its ingredients, mustard oil, was
> >banned for containing too much erucic acid. Just before the ban,
> >I bought a full case of 36 bottles -- and I still have at least 20 of
> >them -- but I'm not interested in selling. I must admit I was tempted
> >to put them up for sale when I saw a bottle sold on Ebay for $201,
> >but then I figured that would probably flood the market and the
> >price would drop. Now, if someone offered me $4000 for my
> >entire remaining supply . . .
>
> There was a story in the paper last month about a 5-year old in
> ..Wisconsin(?) that got into the stash of pre-ban j/nghlm. The
> parents were charged with child endangerment, or something of the
> sort. It was a sad story.

Have to be careful with storage, too. Freezing is best if you can't get
fresh (ah, the tragedy of the loss of texture!) but then you must thaw
it in the fridge and use it within 48 hours.

Miche

Miche

--
If you want to end war and stuff you got to sing loud.
-- Arlo Guthrie, "Alice's Restaurant"

In article >, Miche
> wrote:


> > pepper corns. I don't remember seeing garlic. I'm guessing the bottle
> > was half a liter square and about 10" tall.
>
> The litre/liter is a measure of volume. I'm pretty sure you didn't mean
> half a metre square. How many inches along one side?


The same as the other three sides! That's the definition of square.


:-)

--
Dan Abel
Sonoma State University
AIS

Miche wrote:

>> I don't remember seeing garlic. I'm guessing the bottle
>>was half a liter, square and about 10" tall.
>
>
> The litre/liter is a measure of volume. I'm pretty sure you didn't mean
> half a metre square. How many inches along one side?



I realized I neglected to put the comma in, after I sent it.

I also didn't mean half a liter. That would make one skinny bottle. the
bottle was more like one liter.

The bottle was ~ 3" per side.

In article >,
Mark > wrote:

> Miche wrote:
>
> >> I don't remember seeing garlic. I'm guessing the bottle
> >>was half a liter, square and about 10" tall.
> >
> >
> > The litre/liter is a measure of volume. I'm pretty sure you didn't mean
> > half a metre square. How many inches along one side?
>
>
>
> I realized I neglected to put the comma in, after I sent it.
>
> I also didn't mean half a liter. That would make one skinny bottle. the
> bottle was more like one liter.
>
> The bottle was ~ 3" per side.

Pretty much a standard olive oil bottle size then.

Hope you're able to find it again!

Miche

--
If you want to end war and stuff you got to sing loud.
-- Arlo Guthrie, "Alice's Restaurant"

Mark wrote:
>
>
> Years ago, shortly after my sister moved to Miami (20, 25 years ago?),
> she sent us a bottle of oil. I think she said it was from the middle
> east but I'm seriously unsure of that.
>
> This oil was a 60/40 blend of olive and grape seed oils. In the oil was
> several sticks of herb one of which looked like a stick of oregano, a
> couple of leaves, and a slurry of what I guess were herbs and possibly
> pepper corns. I don't remember seeing garlic. I'm guessing the bottle
> was half a liter square and about 10" tall. The label was green with
> white border tombstone shape with mainly black lettering, I believe it
> may have had gold lettering on the side labels. I don't remember the
> language the label was printed in, could have been Arabic, Hebrew,
> Hispanic, .....

I would try a yahoo search at one of yahoo's foreign country search
pages they might return some leads. If you go to this page:
http://docs.yahoo.com/docs/family/more.html the foreign country search
pages are listed at the bottom. Good luck.

> That is a perfect description of j/nghlm
> one of its ingredients, mustard oil, was banned for containing too
much erucic acid.

What were the other ingredients? I bet one could come fairly close
substituting mustard seed (or, at worst, pressing the mustard oil out of
mustard seed oneself).

--
Sylvia Steiger RN, homeschooling mom since Nov 1995
http://www.SteigerFamily.com
Cheyenne WY, USDA zone 5a, Sunset zone 1a
Home of the Wyoming Wind Festival, January 1-December 31
Remove "removethis" from address to reply

Sylvia wrote:

> > That is a perfect description of j/nghlm
> > one of its ingredients, mustard oil, was banned for containing too
> much erucic acid.
>
> What were the other ingredients? I bet one could come fairly close
> substituting mustard seed (or, at worst, pressing the mustard oil out of
> mustard seed oneself).
>


Who ever made what appears to be the first reply to my question was
pulling my leg, and so is what appears to be the follow up (what you
quoted).

People will play games.

Thanks for your concern. I believe I'm going to research oil seasoning
techniques. Like my other interests if I can't buy exactly what I want
I'll learn to make it. I made several attempts before. The hardest part
was keeping out of it until it had properly aged.

Last time I tried it was my Wife who couldn't keep out of it so I must
have been doing something right however uninformed I was at doing it.






--
--

Mark

N.E. Ohio


Never argue with a fool, a bystander can't tell you apart. (S. Clemens,
A.K.A. Mark Twain)

When in doubt hit the throttle. It may not help but it sure ends the
suspense. (Gaz, r.moto)

> Who ever made what appears to be the first reply to my question
pulling my leg

Are you sure? If so, it was a champion leg-pulling -- I've always been
able to figure them out before, but this one, including a reference to
the dangers of erucic acid (which are real, at least in the minds of the
FDA) and an unpronounceable Arabic delicacy, convinced me. Sheesh.

--
Sylvia Steiger RN, homeschooling mom since Nov 1995
http://www.SteigerFamily.com
Cheyenne WY, USDA zone 5a, Sunset zone 1a
Home of the Wyoming Wind Festival, January 1-December 31
Remove "removethis" from address to reply