The history of olive oil in Spanish cuisine dates back more than 3,000 years, and Spain is home to some of the oldest olive trees in the world. In this article, we reveal a few facts you probably didn't know about Spanish olive oil.
Its aroma, flavor, and texture make it a staple at every table, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Spain is the world's leading producer of olive oil, and its quality is well established, as evidenced by its 29 protected designation of origin labels: 12 in Andalusia, 5 in Catalonia, 4 in Castile-La Mancha, 2 in Extremadura, 2 in Aragon, and 1 each in the Valencian Community, La Rioja, the Balearic Islands, and Navarre.
Andalusia, in southern Spain, is one of our favorite regions. It is home to olive oil experts who teach us incredible things every day. We have therefore decided to share them with you:
1. Spain is the world's leading producer of olive oil!
Spain produces an average of nearly 44% of the world's olive oil each year, twice as much as Italy and four times as much as Greece. This represents about 1.2 million tons of olive oil per year.
2. Jaén leads olive oil production in Spain
If you have ever driven from Madrid to Andalusia, you probably remember that endless sea of olive trees covering the countryside. The southern climate makes it the ideal place to grow olive trees, and the heart of Andalusian production is the province of Jaén. Nearly 70% of Spanish olive oil comes from Jaén, and this small province produces more olive oil on its own than all of Italy.
3. The Spanish have the Phoenicians to thank
It is said that the Phoenicians, a people from present-day Syria or Lebanon, introduced the olive tree to Spain around 1050 BC: nearly 3,000 years of shared history! However, it was the Romans who spread olive groves throughout Spain, and then the Arabs who introduced more advanced cultivation and production techniques.
4. The Romans had made the olive branch a symbol
Olive oil was very important to the Romans, and Andalusia, thanks to its climate and geography, played a major role in the Empire's oil production. The Romans loved this "liquid gold". The olive tree was considered a sacred, mythological, even magical tree. Spanish olive oil became so famous that Emperor Hadrian, originally from the Seville region, adopted the olive branch as a symbol and emblem of Roman Hispania.
5. Italian olive oil may not be as Italian as you think!
With such high production, it is no wonder that a large portion of Spanish oil is exported. What is interesting is that many countries bottle it at home and sell it as if it were local, including Italy! The next time you buy a bottle of Italian olive oil, take a close look at the label to find out where it really comes from.
6. The olive tree, famous for its longevity and resilience
Olive trees live an average of 300 to 600 years, an incredible lifespan, and Spain is home to some of the oldest olive trees in the world.
7. Spain has around 300 million olive trees
This may sound incredible: with around 47 million inhabitants, Spain has approximately 6 olive trees per person.
8. You can fry food in olive oil!
Contrary to popular belief, many varieties of olive oil, such as Picual, are perfect for frying: they heat up quickly and withstand high temperatures well. And frying in olive oil is healthier than with most other oils.