The cultivation of the wild olive tree is thought to have begun around 6,000 years ago. Trees and the methods of extraction were bought to the Iberian Peninsula by the Phoenicians in 1000 BC and also by the Greeks around 600BC. But it was the Romans who cultivated olives and exported the oil to Rome.
When the Roman Empire fell into decline so did a lot of the olive production except in Southern Spain where the Arabs took over the care and production introducing new varieties and methods of production.
Olive trees are long lived and slow growing. They take around forty years to produce a maximum crop and can continue to do so until they are about 140 years old, although many trees can and do still produce a good crop approaching a thousand years old.
Olive Oil Production in Spain
Spain today has more than 300 million olive trees and is the leading producer and exporter of olive oil. It´s average production is around 800,000 metric tons, the majority of which is grown in Andalucia, the world´s largest production area. Only around 20% of the oil produced is exported.
The province of Jaén is the main growing area producing 70% of Spain´s olive crop. It´s main varieties are Picual Verdala Real and Manzanilla de Jaén. Cordoba comes second in its size of harvest. The olive harvest takes place from late November to February or March and between four and eleven kilos of fruit are used to produce a litre of olive oil.
The methods of production and quality have greatly improved over the years and DO certified oils are growing in popularity. This is a list of the DO olive oils in Spain.
Denominaciones de Origen in Spain
- Aceite de La Rioja
- Aceite del Bajo Aragón Siurana
- Aceite del Baix Ebre-Montsià
- Aceite de Mallorca
- Aceite de Terra Alta
- Aceite Monterrubio
- Antequera
- Baena
- Estepa
- Gata-Hurdes
- Les Garrigues
- Montes de Granada
- Montes de Toledo
- Poniente de Granada
- Priego de Córdoba
- Sierra de Cádiz
- Sierra de Cazorla
- Sierra de Segura
- Sierra Mágina
Extra Virgin
Extra Virgin olive oil is by far the best; this is the first cold pressing of the fruit. A pure juice with all the vitamins and minerals present and a minimum acidity of 0.2% and a maximum of 1.0%. Extra Virgen Olive Oil is often referred to or labeled EVOO and is used for more than just food, it´s also used as lamp fuel, a preservative, medical cure, laxative and in many cosmetics. Soaps and shampoos as well as face creams are popular products made from a natural base of olive oil making them wonderfully enriching to the skin.
Rachel L. Webb - Rachel L Webb lives in and writes mainly about Andalucia. She enjoys exploring the region and shares her explorations through her website ...
