Sierra Mágina olive oil is a product of excellent quality. The Sierra Mágina Protected Designation of Origin preserves and recognizes the quality of olive oils made in the Sierra Mágina region, in Jaén, which are famous throughout the world for their excellent flavor. If you find an olive oil with the seal of this DOP , you have found a product of officially verified quality, which has passed the strictest controls, both in its production and in its distribution and sale.
Mountain olive groves of Sierra Mágina.
The Sierra Mágina region is located in the south-central part of the province of Jaén, surrounding the mountain massif that gives it its name. This region is home to nearly 60,000 hectares of olive groves, which we could consider as mountain olive groves, with an average slope of more than 15%, and a very marked balance between dryland and irrigated olive groves. Most of these olive groves are traditional and are divided into small farms of local producers.
The low productivity of sloping olive groves makes them less competitive compared to those in the countryside, and harvesting and collection costs are higher. For this reason, olive producers, oil mills and cooperatives in this area have focused on the production of high-quality extra virgin olive oils. This strategy allows them to maintain this vital activity for the municipalities in the area.
The Sierra Mágina Designation of Origin covers fifteen municipalities: Albachez de Mágina, Bedmar y Garcíez, Bélmez de la Moraleda, Cabra del Santo Cristo, Cambil-Arbuniel, Cárcheles, Campillo de Arenas, La Guardia de Jaén, Huelma-Solera, Jimena, Jódar , Larva, Mancha Real, Pegalajar and Torres. In this designation, it is essential that the oils are produced and packaged within the region and that they come from olive groves located in these municipalities.
The Sierra Mágina DOP only accepts extra virgin olive oil.
Among the oils produced in the Sierra Mágina region, only those that, among other requirements, have been officially classified as extra virgin olive oil can bear the seal of this DOP .
The Regulatory Council of the Sierra Mágina Protected Designation of Origin has a chemical laboratory to carry out self-control analyzes of the registered entities and with its own tasting panel that guarantees that the conditions required for the oils included in this DOP can be classified as extra virgin.
This measure is one more characteristic of the quality commitment of this designation of origin, whose objective is to differentiate the oils from this area for their excellent organoleptic qualities.
Other characteristics required to be part of the PDO
In order to carry the Sierra Mágina PDO seal on the packaging, it is necessary to meet a series of requirements that range from production to the release of the chosen oils to the market.
-Location: The olive groves from which the oil comes must be located within the more than 60,000 hectares of olive groves that this Jaén region has. Furthermore, the oils under this name must be produced and packaged within the limits of this region.
-Olive variety: The main variety of this designation of origin is Picual, although Manzanillo de Jaén is also accepted as a secondary variety.
-Acidity less than 0.5%: Although current legislation requires that extra virgin olive oils must have a maximum acidity of 0.8%, in the Sierra Mágina Designation of Origin they go one step further and require a maximum acidity of only 0.5%, guaranteeing the quality of all its oils. Here you can learn more about: What is acidity in olive oil? .
-Olive harvesting: The quality control of the oils included begins in the harvesting process in the field, which is carried out using only olives from the tree (not from the ground), collected with great care and cleanliness to avoid deterioration, and which is delivered to the oil mill right after harvesting.
-Fruit grinding: the fruit must be ground in less than 48 hours after receipt and the oil obtained must be stored in suitable tanks for its perfect conservation, mainly made of stainless steel.
- No chemicals: In the production of their oils in oil mills and cooperatives, only physical means are used (grinding and centrifugal separation) without any chemical process. The oil extraction process is carried out through cold extraction , always at a temperature below 27 degrees.
Flavor and aroma of Sierra Mágina DOP olive oils.
Although the DOP includes extra virgin oils of different types, the quality parameters required for all of them give rise to common characteristics of flavor and aroma.
These are generally very fruity oils, which usually present aroma notes of freshly cut green grass, tomato plant, olive leaf, artichoke and banana peel.
As for the flavor, these are oils with bitterness and spiciness that are classified as medium to light in the tasting. If I have to highlight the most interesting aspect for me about Sierra Mágina oils, it is in them that we find the intense flavor of the classic Picual from Jaén, with the green and natural notes transmitted by the environment from which they come.
Types of olive oils that we can find in the Sierra Mágina DOP.
Early harvest:
Early harvest oils are those that come from olives whose harvesting begins in mid-October, with the green olive beginning to change color, beginning the process known as veraison.
Most of them are oils considered Premium , since they are highly valued oils for their flavor and aroma, very intense and natural, full of nuances of grass, olive leaf and very natural notes. In addition, they usually have an intense green color that makes them very attractive.
The green olive typical of the month of October offers a lower yield in terms of obtaining oil, since the fruit has not reached its maximum level of maturity, but it is the time when it offers the most natural flavor notes.
Formats:
The olive oils covered by the Sierra Mágina Protected Designation of Origin can be found on the market in very different size and packaging formats, and which can be adapted to the needs of all consumers.
Glass bottles.
They are the most common format in Sierra Mágina's Premium extra virgin olive oils, although also in oils not classified as Premium, mostly found in 500ml containers and sometimes 1L.
Here you can see three examples:PET Carafes and Bottles.
They are the most chosen packaging for mass consumption or family consumption. They can be found in 5L, 3L and 2L bottles, as well as 1L bottles. Although it is a container that protects the oil less and is less suitable for its conservation, PET is widely chosen for its slightly lower price and its resistance to impacts.
Here you can see three examples:
In this link you can find more olive oils from Sierra Mágina .
Cans.
The can is the most recommended container when it comes to preserving olive oil at home, and today it is offered in multiple sizes, ranging from 1L cans, to 2.5L and 5L cans. It is the format that we always recommend to our clients if they are going to store the oil for a more or less long time, since it protects the product very well from air and light, making it more difficult for its organoleptic qualities to be damaged.
Here are three examples of Sierra Mágina olive oils in cans:Bag in box and single doses.
Currently, you can also find extra virgin olive oils from the Sierra Mágina PDO on the market in newer formats, very much aimed at today's consumer. One of them is the bag in box, which has become very famous in recent years and has a comfortable tap to serve it.
On the other hand, you can also find oil in single doses, whose average capacity for each one is 20ml, ideal for taking to work or outdoors and adding to salads or other dishes.
On our website you can find a multitude of olive oils from Sierra Mágina .
