Curiosities of the olive tree and its oil

The olive tree and the olive oil have many curiosities that we want to make known here. Curiosities of the olive tree that some are current and others older, but they are very interesting. Here we are going to discover them, so don’t go and keep reading.

Therefore, we are going to see the following curiosities

1. There are more than 200 olive varieties in Spain
2. Portugal is our biggest buyer
3. Spain has millenary olive trees
4. The largest area of olive trees is in Spain
5. Where does the name “Liquid Gold” come from?
6. Other curiosities of the olive tree

Also, in our store in Las Rozas in Madrid you have at your disposal the largest offer of olive oils in Spain. The best Denominations of Origin: Baena, Sierra Magina, Sierra de Cazorla, Priego de Córdoba, etc. You may also be interested; Where to buy extra virgin olive oil?

1. There are more than 200 varieties of olive tree in Spain.

Spain has an enormous wealth of olive varieties. Apart from the well-known varieties of picual, cornicabra, arbequina and hojiblanca, there are more than 200 varieties. Some for the elaboration of oil and others for the elaboration of table olives. In addition, each one with its characteristics, organoleptic and its characteristics of adaptation to the environment.

However, do not confuse autochthonous names that are the same variety but named locally.

2. Italy is our biggest buyer

Most of the olive oil produced in Spain, bulk room and bought by Italians. They bottle it and sell it to the rest of the world. This is a certainty, although it surprises many of them.

However, we have good news to tell you. This is slowly changing. More and more olive oil from Spain is being sold. Large and small brands, and the government of Spain, are making a great effort in the promotion of our oils, and already in many countries, Spain is the largest importer. Likewise, this effort is being put into the design and marketing of our bottles, to compete on equal terms with Italian oils.

On the other hand, we also ask for a greater appreciation of our products on the part of the Spaniards. Because sometimes it seems that because it is Spanish, it is of worse quality than that of other countries.

3. Spain has millenary olive trees

Spain. has some living jewels that are its centenary olive trees. These are found in different parts of its geography. Some of their preciousness we find them in Granada, Jaén, Valencia and Catalonia.

An example of these olive trees can be found below.

Photo: centenary olive tree

4. The largest area of olive trees is in Spain

Spain has the largest area of olive trees in the world, doubling the second producer which is Italy. In addition, most of this production is concentrated in the province of Jaén.

5. Where does the name “Oro Líquido” (Liquid Gold) come from?

The name we give to extra virgin olive oil as “liquid gold” was coined by the Romans. Therefore, for two thousand years now, extra virgin olive oil has been recognised as a fantastic product, both for its flavour and for the properties it gives to our health.

6. Other curiosities about the olive tree

Apart from these curiosities, we will gradually go into this article including other curiosities about the olive tree and its oil.

a) An olive branch and a dove, symbols of peace

In the book of Genesis of the Old Testament, God was angry with humanity. So he let a universal flood happen, but before it happened, he called Noah and asked him to build an ark to save his family and to put every species of animal in it.

So it was, and after 40 days of continuous rain, Noe wanted to know if there was any dry land. To do this, a dove jumped up and asked her to look for dry land. The pigeon volition with an olive branch. Therefore, this was the symbol that God gave us, in which He showed us that He was giving us another chance and was at peace again with men.

Likewise, Picasso again used the symbol of the dove and the olive branch as a symbol of Peace.