Picual or Arbequina
January means that all the new harvests of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) are already on sale in Spain. One of our gastronomic flagships in our country that we deeply love at
Made in Spain Gourmet. The true Liquid Gold. Of the more than 250 olive varieties found across Spain, two stand out: the
picual and the arbequina. Can you tell them apart? Do you like both? Which one do you prefer? Here we give you some clues so you can recognize them the next time you taste our Picual and Arbequina EVOOs. Because when you know the nuances, you enjoy them much more.
Arbequina Variety
The
Arbequina olive variety is native to
Palestine. The Duke of Medinaceli, Baron of Arbeca (Lérida), introduced it to Spain in the mid-18th century after importing it from Palestine. For that reason its cultivation spread throughout
Catalonia and also
Aragón, where it is now most commonly found.
The fruit is
also smaller, reddish or somewhat violet in color depending on the stage of ripeness. The color of the EVOO from this variety is more
yellowish than Picual, even when it is early-harvest. Among its characteristics, we can say it is a
very fresh and young oil, more aromatic. With a
sweeter taste and
less pungency, its fruity flavor is much milder. Due to its composition, it is more delicate against oxidation. Therefore, you should store it in the dark and at a low-to-medium temperature. When using it in cooking, it is perfect for enhancing other flavors.
Picual Variety
For its part, the origin of the Picual variety is rather uncertain, albeit with nuances. What is known is that the town of Martos (Jaén) is where some of the oldest olive trees are found. It is most commonly found in
Andalusia, specifically
Jaén and
Córdoba.
With
high productivity, its
harvest is earlier. As a result, the liquid gold obtained is a greener color. Its shelf life at home is somewhat better, as it resists oxidation longer. From an organoleptic point of view, the olive oil produced from Picual olives offers an
intense flavor. Full-bodied, with a certain touch of bitterness and a bit more pungency than the other variety. On the other hand, it has higher levels of
oleic acid, polyphenols and also
natural antioxidants. These nutrients make it an even healthier oil.
Our Picual and Arbequina EVOO recommendations for 2023