Discovering Mallorcan Olive Oil

I recently attended the presentation for this year's production of Extra Virgin Olive Oil with the designation of origin 'Oli de Mallorca'. Here are some of my discoveries on Mallorca's own Olive Oil..

Authentic Mallorcan Olive Oil is produced using any one or a combination of the olive varieties, Arbequina, Picual or Mallorquina. These three varietals of olive allow the producers to create olive oils which are of an extremely high quality and which have very unique flavours and aromas. The Arbequina olive gives the oil a fruity taste, the Picual gives a more bitter flavour and the Mallorquina brings a more subtle sweetness which is reminiscent of ripe almonds. The oils produced using any one of these olive types, or different combinations of each are all unique and often surprising in their depth of flavour and aroma.

At present there are a total of 372 producers of Mallorcan Olive Oil, comprising a total of 1400 hectares of land and 7 Olive Oil presses. During 2008 a total of 100,000 litres of the Extra Virgin Olive Oil was produced which showed an increase of 17.5% over the previous year. Despite this, the amount of Mallorcan Olive Oil consumed on the island only accounts for 2.7% of the total sales. The rest of the sales are made abroad, with Germany being the primary consumer.

During the presentation at the Casal Solleric in Palma, The President of the Regulatory Council for Mallorcan Olive Oil, Mr Josep Oliver referred to the still apparent lack of knowledge about authentic Olive Oil and how to identify it by way of the distinctive green logo. The lack of hotels and restaurants using Mallorcan Olive Oil is also still very apparent and tourism establishments need to be made aware of the product and to be encouraged to help in its promotion. The production of olive oil on the island of Mallorca is emblematic not just because of the age old tradition it represents but also for the beautiful scenery of olive trees which it lends to the landscape. Extra virgin olive oil is a natural product, made from pure olive juice and which acts as the base for Mallorcan and Mediterranean gastronomy. As Mr Oliver so aptly put it, Mallorcan Olive Oil is not just another oil, it is the essence of Mallorca.

For more information see SkyBlue Mallorca Food & Wine Guide