From tree to table: the fascinating story of Spain’s celebrated olive oil

European olive oil from Spain will transform your cooking and can benefit your health. Read on to discover how to make the most of this liquid gold

5 mins read time | Written by Kayleigh Giles

Widely revered as one of the greatest ingredients in Mediterranean gastronomy, olive oil is not only a key ingredient in the country’s cuisine, but also its culture and history. Indeed, Spain has remained a prime spot for olive cultivation since the Phoenicians planted the very first trees there way back in 1050 BC.

Today, the Mediterranean landscape is alive with a rich tapestry of olive groves, each one abounding with some of the world’s most sought-after variations. Indeed, Spain harvests more than 250 different olive types, plus it produces and exports around 50% of the world’s total, so unsurprisingly it’s the largest supplier of olive oil on the planet. Its olive oils are renowned for their heady aromas, culinary versatility and healthy attributes, so it’s little wonder they have become so popular.

Keen to find out more about how Spain’s olive oils can improve your cooking, and perhaps even your health? Read on...

How do you take yours?

If you thought it was as simple as picking up some olive oil from the supermarket and drizzling it over your food, think again. From spicy and fresh bright green oils to fruitier, golden versions, each of Spain’s olive oils offer their own unique flavour profiles. If you were to buy extra virgin olive oil that derives from the hojiblanca olive, for example, you’d detect notes of freshly cut grass, artichoke and fragrant plants, while cornicabra oil boasts a zesty flavour and a fuller consistency.

Then there’s the antioxidant-rich picual olive oil, which is the most abundant type available in Spain – and even the world. It’s one of the few varieties prized for its resistance to oxidisation, which allows it to be heated at high temperatures and used to preserve raw and cooked foods. When it comes to flavour, expect a full-bodied oil with a pleasing, peppery taste.

Spain is one of few countries to have 30 olive oils awarded a Designation of Origin status – and if that’s not a testament to the excellent quality of the country’s extra virgin olive oils, what is?!

Not just a pretty taste

A pillar in the revered Mediterranean diet, Olive oil is among the few miracle foods that not only taste delicious, but also boast major health benefits. Oleic acid (monounsaturated fatty acid) is the main component of olive oil and represents between 55% and 83% of the fatty acid content. It’s this replacement of saturated fats with unsaturated fats that can help to improve blood cholesterol levels, subsequently helping to reduce one of the risk factors of cardiovascular disease.

This liquid gold is also a rich source of antioxidants, containing polyphenols that help protect against blood lipids (another cause of cardiovascular disease), along with vitamin E, a powerful natural antioxidant that defends cells against oxidative damage. It’s recommended that you consume 40g of virgin olive oil a day to really reap the benefits.

The olive revolution

Like grape varieties in wine, the best olive oil starts with great olives, something the Spanish know all about. Over the last few decades, Spain’s olive sector has undergone a complex revolution that has improved the quality and diversity of its oil, as well as put the country at the forefront of the international olive-growing industry.

Advanced growing systems, drip irrigation, integrated production and environmentally-friendly growing practices are carefully intertwined to create an almost perfect fruit, which is harvested at its optimum ripeness. It’s this timely picking that ensures the olive’s wonderful flavours and aromas are at their peak. Perhaps best of all, new innovation extraction technologies (which are tailored to each unique variety of olive and ripeness) now allow the oil to be yielded without losing the nuanced flavours of the original fruit.

Join the healthy European lifestyle

The Olive Oil World Tour is the international olive oil promotion campaign promoted by the Spanish Olive Oil Interprofessional Organisation with the support of the European Union. It’s an invitation to travellers from all over the world to join the healthy European lifestyle through the consumption of olive oil. The tour will span across three years, landing in Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom, Belgium and the Netherlands. As the world leader in production, distribution and commercialisation of olive oil, Spain heads this European project to encourage people to adopt the health lifestyle of European’s with olive oils from Spain.