What types of olives are used in SIQEV EVOO?

What types of olives are used in SIQEV EVOO?

There are few things that are more perfect than Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and we know that very well. But as much as we cherish and love this product for what it is, we know that there is no single perfect raw material used in its production, in other words it is not down to just one type of olive.

Surprising as it may seem, there are more than 200 types of olives used in EVOO – the liquid gold that we love so much and which we use to enjoy all kinds of food.

Do you want to learn about them? We will show you some of them in this article.

Types of olives for SIQEV EVOO

It would be (almost) impossible to name all the types of olives used in EVOO that exist, as there are so many of them. But we are going to talk about the most common ones that can be found in Extra Virgin Olive Oils that carry the SIQEV seal.

Hojiblanca

This olive variety is found between the south of Cordoba (where it originally comes from) and the north of Malaga, although it can also be found in areas around Seville and Granada.

Its name comes from the whitish colour of the tree’s leaves (in Spanish, ‘hoja’ is leaf and ‘blanca’ is white). It is sweet on the palate and there are numerous brands of SIQEV EVOO made from this type of olive.

Picual

This is the most frequent variety in Spain and, therefore, it is used in many of our partners’ EVOOs which bear the SIQEV seal. Where can we find it? In Jaen, Cordoba, Seville and Granada.

It is considered the ‘most profitable’ olive as it has a high production, high yield and is harvested easily. Its name comes from the beak-like shape (in Spanish, ‘pico’ is beak).

Picuda

This variety is very common in the southern mountain range in Cordoba. It provides aromatic oil characterised by green fruitiness and a fragrance with light bitterness.

Manzanilla

This type of olive can be found in Seville, Badajoz or Huelva and, although it is usually used more for the table than for milling EVOO, a high-quality oil can be obtained. However, it is a little denser than others.

Cornicabra

This variety, from Castilla La Mancha, has the second largest cultivation area and produces an oil with a very characteristic aroma, with hints of apple.

It is named after the curved shape of the fruit, reminiscent of a goat’s horn (as in Spanish, ‘cuerno de cabra’ is goat’s horn).

Arbequina

These olives grow on a subtly different tree, which is a little smaller than the rest of the olive trees and hence produces a slightly smaller fruit. It is a common variety in Arbeca, in Lleida.

Empeltre

This type of olive originates in Zaragoza, although it can also be found in olive groves in the Balearic Islands. They give the oil a yellowish colour and a slightly sweeter taste.

Lechín

Native to central Andalusia, the Lechín olive variety is specifically found in Seville, Cordoba and Cadiz.

It is a fluid yet dense oil, which is fruity and has hints of almonds. 

Blanqueta

As its name might suggest, this olive has a striking white colour when it is fully ripe (as the Spanish word ‘blanca’ means white). It is a frequently found species in Valencia, Alicante, Murcia y Albacete.

Alfafarenca

Also known as Alfarara, this type of olive used in EVOO is mainly found in Valencia, Alicante and Albacete. It has a golden colour, and its name refers to its origin: the village of Alfarara in Alicante.

Which olives are used to make the best SIQEV EVOO?

These are just some of the fruits which are used to obtain an exquisite Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Our partners are well informed on this topic and, in fact, you can find different SIQEV EVOOs with all of the above varieties.