Where is more olive oil produced in Spain?
That Spain is olive oil land is an irrefutable fact, as it is also that the Mediterranean diet would not be the same without its exclusive liquid gold. Our country is a world leader in olive oil productionThat is why it has a wide catalog of extra virgin olive oils equipped with European seals that certify and guarantee their quality.
These are the Protected Denominations of Origin (DOP) and the Protected Geographical Indications (PGI), the proof that our oils have characteristics that make them unique. These have a lot to do with Our specific varieties of olives, which grow in very delimited territories thanks to traditional ancestral ones.
Did you know that we have 32 PDOs and 2 IGPs of extra virgin olive oils distributed throughout the country?
Spanish olive oil is unmatched and It occurs in many corners of our geography. From Beloleum, in this post we are going to explain what all those points on the map are. Read on to discover where olive oil is produced in Spain!
Keys to the production of olive oil in Spain
The production of olive oil in Spain does not stop growing. Between 2021 and 2022, the last season of which there are records, 1.5 million tonnes of liquid gold were produced. This meant nothing less than an increase in production by almost 100,000 tons compared to the previous campaign. And it is that Spanish olive oil is increasingly valued worldwide!
As we have mentioned, we are the country with the highest production of olive oil worldwide. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the Spanish olive oil production Suppose 70% of the total of the European Union and 45% from around the world.
Our national olive grove covers 2.75 million hectares, of which 2.55 million belong to Olivar de Almazara. But in what parts of Spain is this oil produced? Of the 17 autonomous communities, a total of 15 grow olive oil.
Production of olive oil in Spain by provinces
The first olive-grown village in Spain is in the south. This is Martos, province of Jaén, a place where the extension of cultivated area is around 30,000 hectares. In the communities, Andalusia tops the list with 1.67 million hectares of production, which represents 80% of the total. Castilla La Mancha, Extremadura, Catalonia and Aragon They are also part of the ranking.
And, as for the provinces, according to a study by the Food Information and Control Agency (AICA), among the main producers of olive oil in Spain are, after Jaén, Córdoba, Seville, Granada, Malaga, Ciudad Real, Toledo, Tarragona and Badajoz.
What is the process of making olive oil?
Now that you know where olive oil is produced in Spain, it’s time to learn other data on the more curious olive oil production, such as the production process itself. And it is that creating a single liter of oil entails a complex procedure!
We summarize how it works with the most basic points:
- olive cultivation. The production of olive oil begins, of course, in the cultivation of the olive grove, its maintenance and care. In Spain, the Picual variety is one of the most common due to its excellent quality.
- olive harvest. With the olives collected, it will be time to select the healthiest fruits and clean them.
- milling. The next step in the production of oil is to crush the olives to obtain the product.
- Beaten. The centrifuges will be the next to act.
- Oil extraction and decantation. To extract the olive oil, the solid product will have to be separated from the liquid.
- storage and packaging. Once filtered, the olive oil is stored in deposits. It is the phase before its packaging. In this step, for Beloleum design plays a fundamental role.
Olive oil in Aragon: flavor and history
In Aragon, olive oil production has been part of our history since time immemorial. Among the lands that make up the Designation of origin Aragon Oil There is the Campo de Belchite region, a place where olive cultivation dates back to ancient Rome.
In this territory is Beloleum, our mill. With more than 140 years of work behind us, we try to offer an extra virgin olive oil of the highest quality and expression, A jewel of Spanish gastronomy capable of transcending borders. If you haven’t tried the gastronomic treasure of our region yet… it’s time to do it!
Latest Posts on Olive Oil
Fasting olive oil: everything you need to know
5 gourmet homemade burger recipes
How to optimize olive nutrition?