Jaén olive oil is famous worldwide for its superior quality and unmistakable flavor. To understand why the oil from this province is so famous, we are going to give some data that will make you understand the reason why when we hear Jaén the flavor of the olive oil and the beautiful landscape of the province come to mind. olive grove
Jaén is the largest olive oil producing region in the world.
Approximately 20% of world production and more than 40% of all Spanish olive oil production comes from the province of Jaén. On its surface there are more than 66 million olive trees that extend across 550,000 hectares of olive cultivation.
These data alone already tell us about Jaén's great contribution to Spain being the world's largest producer of olive oil (46% of world production, approximately half coming from Jaén).
Although production volume data may vary from one year to the next due to climatic conditions, since the amount of rain considerably affects production, Jaén stands out above the rest of the producing provinces, with Córdoba being the second in output.
Comparison between the main producing provinces.
Data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in tons.
An ancient tradition.
Although there is historical data that shows that the cultivation of the olive tree was brought by the Phoenicians and Greeks to the south of Spain, it was in Roman times when an authentic olive oil production industry was established, and that had Jaén as its one of its main areas.
It is estimated that Jaén has been producing olive oil since the time of the Second Punic War, in 212 BC, which means that Jaén's olive-growing tradition dates back no less than 2,200 years.
Centuries later, at the time of Arab rule of the Iberian Peninsula, the expansion and improvement of production techniques, especially oil mills, took this industry to a higher level.
But why Jaén? The answer lies in its climate and geography.
The climate of Jaén is ideal for the olive tree. Its characteristics are typical of the Mediterranean climate, with mild winters that allow the trees to survive and long, hot summers that facilitate the optimal ripening of the olives.
Although there are years in which drought wreaks havoc on production, the amount of rain that the province of Jaén receives is one of the most suitable for the cultivation of olive trees.
The province has a varied topography with altitudes ranging from low areas to mountains that exceed 2,000 meters. This diversity of altitude allows the cultivation of olive trees in different microclimatic conditions, benefiting the production and quality of the oil.
The Picual variety from Jaén.
The Picual variety is the most used in Jaén oil . Almost 90% of its olive grove area is made up of olive trees of the Picual variety. As it is the most used variety in the production of olive oil in this province, many consumers associate the Picual variety with olive oil from Jaén.
Although we dedicated another entire post to Picual olive oil, we are going to describe some of the main characteristics of this variety:
-The oils of the Picual variety are characterized by their intensity of flavor and aroma. These are oils with hints of bitterness and spiciness more present than in other varieties. Without a doubt, lovers of the most intense olive oil have Picual de Jaén among their favorites.
-The Picual variety oil is very stable, in addition to being one of the most resistant to oxidation. This allows it to be kept in perfect condition for longer, and to be very useful when using it for cooking.
-One of the aspects that makes this variety very interesting for the consumer is that its oil is one of those that contains the most oleic acid, which has so many benefits for our health, and that it represents an indispensable ally in a healthy diet.
-As far as oil production is concerned, the Picual variety is one of those that allows the production of more oil, since approximately 25% of the weight of the olive is converted into oil. In addition, the Picual olive tree is very resistant to drought and diseases, more than other varieties.
The olive grove in the landscape of the province of Jaén.
The olive grove is so present in the landscape of the province of Jaén that it has become a hallmark of its identity. So much so that throughout the 10 regions that divide the province, the olive grove surface is practically the dominant landscape.
Along them you can see different types of olive grove crops depending on the orography of the land, which often influences the final product, the olive oil , since the land will determine some of the characteristics of the olive tree, and therefore so much of its fruit.
The mountain olive grove.
On the one hand we find mountain olive groves in which olive trees grow in mountain areas, at different heights on steep slopes. Although the flavor characteristics of olive oil depend on a multitude of factors, many people associate the oils from these olive groves with intense flavors, with bitterness and spiciness, as well as very fruity tones in the aroma.
This type of landscape is very common in the province of Jaén, highlighting no less than 3 DOP Protected Designations of Origin, in olive groves with these characteristics, which are:
Sierra Mágina Protected Designation of Origin.
Located in the northeast of Jaén, Sierra Mágina is dominated by mountains and ranges, with altitudes reaching 2,167 meters at Mágina peak. It has approximately 60,000 hectares of olive groves, with an average slope of more than 15%. Its oils are highly valued for their quality, highlighting a large number of Premium olive oil brands and early harvest oils.
Sierra de Cazorla Protected Designation of Origin.
Located east of Jaén, the Sierra de Cazorla region covers part of the Natural Park of the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas. As in the other areas, the Picual variety is the most cultivated in this region, although there is also the Royal variety, native to Cazorla, and which is highly valued for its softer and sweeter flavor.
Sierra de Segura Protected Designation of Origin.
Northeast of Jaén, this region includes part of the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas Natural Park. Its topography is very steep, with areas of high altitude and slopes. The Sierra de Segura DOP certifies the quality of the oils produced in this region. Producers must follow strict standards to obtain this certification, which guarantees the highest quality oil.
Countryside olive groves.
They make up the most representative image of the landscape of the “sea of olive trees” as the province of Jaén is known. Thousands of hectares of olive trees extend along the slopes and valleys, which are the pride and wealth of this land. In this article we are going to highlight only some of these areas, since we could dedicate several posts in this blog just to this type of olive grove landscape.
The La Loma region , which is home to the historic municipalities of Úbeda and Baeza, both recognized as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. This territory is characterized by an extensive and undulating olive grove landscape, the combination of fertile soils and a favorable Mediterranean climate guarantee a high quality harvest.
The Sierra Sur region , in the province of Jaén, is an enclave noted for its high quality olive oil. In the heart of this region is the municipality of Martos, known as the cradle of the olive grove. The landscape of Martos is dominated by extensive olive groves that extend across the slopes and valleys, creating a green mosaic that characterizes the region.
The Campiña de Jaén region is an extensive plain in the province of Jaén, known for its vast olive grove landscape that dominates the horizon. This region is fundamental in the production of olive oil. Municipalities such as Andújar and Torredonjimeno are examples of the rich olive-growing tradition of the area.
The Metropolitan Region of Jaén, in which the olive groves grow next to the capital of the province, or the regions of El Condado, Las Villas and Sierra Morena, are also examples of the beautiful olive grove landscape that extends throughout the region. province, and what makes Jaén olive oil so famous.
