{"id":5916,"date":"2019-11-30T09:51:26","date_gmt":"2019-11-30T09:51:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/casonagranado.com\/?p=5916"},"modified":"2021-05-14T05:21:09","modified_gmt":"2021-05-14T05:21:09","slug":"discovering-evoo-extra-virgin-olive-oil-in-jaen-and-almeria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/casonagranado.com\/es\/discovering-evoo-extra-virgin-olive-oil-in-jaen-and-almeria\/","title":{"rendered":"Descubre AOEV (Aceite de Oliva Extra Virgen) en Ja\u00e9n y Almer\u00eda"},"content":{"rendered":"
Escrito por\u00a0I\u00f1igo Pedrueza<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
\n
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Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oils from Ja\u00e9n, at the Nobleza del Sur oil mill.\u00a0\u00a9 I\u00f1igo Pedrueza.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Olive oil is something intrinsically linked to Spanish and Mediterranean gastronomy.\u00a0There is always talk of this liquid, reminiscent of gold, which summarizes and oozes the best of the wild nature where the olive tree grows.\u00a0Many countries produce olive oil, and many regions in Spain, from Navarra, Aragon and Catalonia in the north to Extremadura, Andalusia, Murcia and the Balearic Islands in the south and southeast.\u00a0But also, in the two Castiles, Madrid and the Valencian Community.\u00a0The Traveling Gyroscope, as everyone knows oil, its virtues, or so we thought.\u00a0Because this last trip to Andalusia has allowed us to visit several oil mills and restaurants in Almer\u00eda and Ja\u00e9n, tasting a wide range of types and uses of olive oil in the gastronomy of this part of Spain.\u00a0But the most important thing is thatwe have learned a lot, discovered a new philosophy and without hesitation we have converted to a new faith<\/strong>\u00a0.\u00a0Religion does not interest us, but\u00a0we have found a wonderful light, something that fills our soul, nose, palate and stomach<\/strong>\u00a0.\u00a0It all comes down to a strange four-letter word that in our ignorance we had not heard:\u00a0EVOO<\/strong>\u00a0.<\/p>\n

But what is EVOO?<\/h2>\n
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Olivares de Ja\u00e9n, in the Nobleza del Sur oil mill.\u00a0\u00a9 I\u00f1igo Pedrueza.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The acronym means, as almost everyone knew, except us,\u00a0\u00a0Extra Virgin Olive Oil<\/strong>\u00a0.\u00a0But as new converts, from now on it is our only belief … well, actually our heterodoxy is still vigorous and\u00a0we also adore Finnish bread, cheeses from around the world, French Champagne, Iberian ham, Azores pineapples and their bolos l\u00eavedos, avocados from the Canary Islands, and mojo, and alborote and gofio, and Italian pasta and Portuguese cod (with permission from al pil-pil) and quesadillas from Mexico and Swedish Sm\u00f6rg\u00e5s, the mythical sandwiches in my brother’s frying pan\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0and the recipes of our grandmothers and mothers<\/strong>\u00a0.\u00a0Anyway, the truth is that we are more than polytheists … Anyway, let’s focus on EVOO, because it really is worth it.<\/p>\n

Thanks to the owners of the oil mills we visited on our trip to eastern Andalusia, we discovered how wrong we were when we thought that \u201cnormal\u201d olive oil was quality oil.\u00a0Did you know that only the oil obtained in the first pressing, at a low temperature, is the true oil, edible and full of healthy properties?\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0Yes, that olive juice is the true green gold, the only one that does not have to be refined and that maintains all the properties\u00a0<\/span>nutritional, freshness, pleasant taste, color and texture.\u00a0The acidity of Extra Virgin Olive Oil is also lower with less volatility of all the elements that give aroma and flavor to EVOO.\u00a0In addition, and contradicting many preconceptions, extra virgin olive oil is the most suitable for frying, because it resists and degrades less the high temperatures of the frying that are approaching 180 \/ 200\u00ba.<\/p>\n

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EVOO Bio Castillo de Canena in one of the great restaurants in Ja\u00e9n.\u00a0Arbequina variety. \u00a9 I\u00f1igo Pedrueza.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But to achieve that extreme quality you have to sacrifice quantity.\u00a0Cold pressing the oil means having a much lower yield.\u00a0And to understand it better, we are going to summarize the EVOO production process and its differences with mild and intense olive oil.<\/p>\n

How EVOO is produced and manufactured.<\/h3>\n

Of course most of the process takes place during the long years of cultivation, care, pruning and maintenance of the millions of olive trees that populate the fields of Spain.\u00a0Only in Ja\u00e9n, the province that produces the most there are 64 million olive trees, 64 million!\u00a0We will ignore all the efforts of businessmen and farmers, the day laborers, who leave their sweat on every square meter of land, at the foot of the millions of olive trees that silently await the moment of harvest.<\/p>\n

Harvesting olives.<\/h4>\n
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Centennial olive trees the estates of Nobleza del Sur in Ja\u00e9n.\u00a0\u00a9 Nobility of the South.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Collection and transport<\/strong>\u00a0are very important as they must be done with extreme care and very quickly.\u00a0To produce Extra Virgin Olive Oil, without failure or tare, it\u00a0is necessary to choose the best olives, those that have not suffered any bad weather, that have not been chopped by hail<\/strong>\u00a0and that are not too ripe.\u00a0Generally the best oils have a green olive ratio of 9\/10.\u00a0That is why\u00a0green olives of color are needed but with their point of maturity<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0that will give us the best EVOO.<\/p>\n

The collection is usually done by mixing the mechanical means and the work of the farmers.\u00a0Fortunately, new machines carry out\u00a0the bending<\/strong>\u00a0without damaging the tree and guaranteeing a select collection.\u00a0The harvest takes place between September and January depending on the area and the climate of each year.\u00a0To obtain a quality EVOO, it must be done as soon as possible, generally between the end of September and November, to keep the level of polynefoles in the olives high, which are very active as antioxidants.\u00a0The collection must be done quickly so that the olives do not become contaminated, always at a low temperature, which is why it is generally done at night before dawn.<\/p>\n

Once collected, they are transported to the hopper through which they enter the oil mill.<\/p>\n

Separation and washing.<\/h4>\n

In the oil mill, the olives are washed and separated from the twigs and leaves, which are often used as compost or as fuel for the machines themselves.<\/p>\n

Grinding.<\/h4>\n

The third step is the crushing and grinding of the olives.\u00a0This is done in such a way that a suitable paste for pressing is obtained.\u00a0It is very important that the olives are never too hot.\u00a0To obtain an oil that can be qualified, and sold, as EVOO it is essential that the temperature during the entire process never exceeds 27\u00ba.\u00a0Generally EVOO is produced below 25\u00ba, around 21\u00ba.\u00a0But don’t forget when EVOO seems expensive to you that the lower the temperature, the less oil you get, but the higher quality it is.<\/p>\n

Pressed, where the green gold is born.<\/h4>\n
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The green juice of the olive finally emerges, pure and perfect.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And we come to pressing, which is often done below 20\u00ba to obtain the delicious olive juice, Extra Virgin Olive Oil.\u00a0The first pressing that creates this delicacy is done as quickly as possible.\u00a0The machines separate three products by centrifugation.\u00a0First the one we are interested in EVOO;\u00a0then the pomace, which are the remains of the olive stone and the pulp;\u00a0and finally the vegetable water, made up of water and traces of oil.\u00a0EVOO arises in the first moment and is quickly separated from the rest to avoid any contamination.\u00a0Thanks to separate stainless steel tubes, each liquid or solid reaches different tanks.\u00a0The EVOO is stored in large warehouses where it will be monitored that the quality is pristine.<\/p>\n

Packing.<\/h4>\n

Finally, the packaging is very important so that the EVOO does not lose the intensity of flavor and aroma or the quality of its elements.<\/p>\n

And then where do “normal” olive oils come from?<\/h3>\n

The other two by-products, olive pomace and vegetable water, are normally sold to other companies.\u00a0These by-products are used to make the millions of liters of mild, intense olive oil and olive-pomace oils.\u00a0And this is when we were left with our eyes open, since both the pomace and the vegetable water are heated and pressed again.\u00a0The oil obtained with these processes cannot be consumed as such and needs to be refined<\/strong>\u00a0to make it edible.\u00a0The mild and intense olive oils are totally neutral, they have neither taste nor aroma, neither.\u00a0<\/strong>Once refined, they are mixed with 10% virgin or Extra virgin Olive oil and the olive oil consumed by the majority of the population, in Spain and around the world, is obtained.\u00a0Surprise and disbelief\u2026 but reality.<\/p>\n

The question of price.<\/h3>\n
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Organic EVOO Cortijo La Torre, varied Royal. \u00a9 I\u00f1igo Pedrueza.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Of course, many will say that it is easy to talk but that mild or intense olive oil is not exactly cheap, so an extra virgin can cost 50% more and, from there upwards.\u00a0It’s true, but when we go out for a drink at a bar, we pay without thinking about it \u20ac 2 for a Coke or a beer and, from there on up.<\/p>\n

A liter of EVOO can last a month for a couple.\u00a0? Even if we need to fry, virgin olive oil is always better, it burns less because it resists high temperatures better and is thus healthier.\u00a0Unless we fry potatoes every day, a liter or two is enough for the month.\u00a0Three liters of excellent extra virgin olive oil can cost \u20ac 20\u2026 How much do we spend on soft drinks and beer in bars every weekend?\u00a0How many that are not even good without tasty do we consume throughout the year?\u00a0Maybe it all comes down to a matter of priorities.<\/p>\n

Obviously, everyone can do what they consider appropriate, but perhaps it is not a bad thing to reflect on the value, and the price, of each product.\u00a0We believe that it is better to consume less quantity in general, but higher quality products.\u00a0It is a way to prevent the price and family spending from skyrocketing, and yet we can increase the value and quality of the products we consume.\u00a0At the gastronomic level, it is convenient for all of us to eat less, but eat better.\u00a0EVOO is a source of health, for its nutritional value and for the value, let’s say, aesthetic and gastronomic, that it confers on all the dishes we prepare, from a humble and tasty salad to the best meat or the best fish.\u00a0With EVOO, the humble salad becomes sublime, due to the oil and the dull northern bonito in summer,<\/p>\n

Of course, money is always a problem, however keep in mind that every penny you pay for an extra virgin olive oil will be well paid.<\/p>\n

Where and with whom we have learned.<\/h3>\n

Thanks to our press trip through\u00a0Eastern Andalusia,<\/strong>\u00a0and the exquisite work of\u00a0Enrique Parra and Turismo Costa de Almer\u00eda<\/strong>\u00a0y\u00a0Mabel Selfa from Jaen Para\u00edso interior,<\/strong>\u00a0we were able to meet the owners and producers of several oil mills in these two provinces and taste a dozen of different brands.\u00a0Try them to embrace the new EVOO philosophy.\u00a0Thank you friends because without you we would continue to be immersed in ignorance!<\/p>\n

But the main work is due to the companies and farmers that produce EVOO oils in Andalusia.\u00a0As we said, there are excellent oils in many areas of Spain and in many countries of the world, that is clear.\u00a0But today we highlight however, these oil mills that welcomed us with such affection and care.<\/p>\n

Aceituneros de Ja\u00e9n.<\/h4>\n

Ja\u00e9n is the province of the olive tree, its geography, much more diverse than it seems, resembles in areas an immense ocean of olive trees.\u00a0The olive groves ramp up the hills and the hills, flood the plains and approach the mountain ranges.\u00a0Ja\u00e9n and its oils do not need presentation, EVOOs do and we do it with great pleasure.<\/p>\n

Nobility of the South and the sea of \u200b\u200bolive trees.<\/h3>\n
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Arbequina Premium from Nobleza del Sur.\u00a0\u00a9 I\u00f1igo Pedrueza.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We must highlight the visit of the\u00a0Nobleza del Sur<\/strong>\u00a0oil mill\u00a0, where Mrs.\u00a0Dolores Sagra<\/strong>It helped us understand a little better what EVOO is thanks to an oil tasting.\u00a012 generations of producers have created this oil since 1640. Today the Pe\u00f1alosa – Sagra family can boast of producing exquisite EVOOs that have earned them multiple national and international awards and accolades.\u00a0An excellent example of work, care for tradition and investment in modernity.\u00a0Thanks to all these joint efforts, Spanish olive oil is known outside our borders and recognized at the same level as that of other countries that have managed to develop marketing.\u00a0All in all, the quality level of Spanish EVOO should get even more recognition, glamor and sales abroad.<\/p>\n

Nobleza del Sur,<\/strong>\u00a0which by the way, enlivens our mornings by lighting up toasted bread and flavoring our awakenings, produces various types of EVOOs.\u00a0Each one a little different, all delicious.\u00a0Umm, it makes our mouths water thinking about the aromas and flavors that escape from every drop of this humble and exquisite olive juice.\u00a0Anyway, let’s be brief.\u00a0We have the\u00a0deep and Mediterranean\u00a0Premium Centennial<\/strong>\u00a0;\u00a0the\u00a0Arbequina Premium Monovarietal<\/strong>\u00a0sweet and aromatic;\u00a0and the\u00a0more personal and deep\u00a0Family Reserve<\/strong>\u00a0.<\/p>\n

We enjoyed seeing the entire production system and learning with Dolores.\u00a0We were sorry not to visit the oil mill at dawn during the harvest, when the dew is still fresh and the oil is produced.\u00a0Seeing the farmers work, the machines roar and see the green gold of Ja\u00e9n emerge, must be a unique experience.\u00a0Now we understand a little better why Nobleza del Sur affects\u00a0philosophy.\u00a0A<\/strong>\u00a0word that is perfectly suited to this type of production, which is obviously made to make a living from it, but which goes much further.\u00a0A philosophy that seeks quality and symbiosis with the environment to continue to please the palates of more people every morning of their lives.<\/p>\n

In Ja\u00e9n we also tried at least a dozen different EVOOs, during our gastronomic discoveries.\u00a0Because how do you eat in Ja\u00e9n? And what quality of restaurants!\u00a0The photos that appear illustrating the article recall those EVOOs.\u00a0Because there is not a single brand, there are a myriad of good producers that feed ours.\u00a0How eager to return to Andalusia!<\/p>\n

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Map of Jaen and the olive groves of Nobleza del Sur.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Almer\u00eda is much more than a desert.<\/h4>\n

Almer\u00eda is not so well known or reputed for its oil, but, here we are to break a spear for the Extra virgin Olive Oils of the province.\u00a0Good EVOO is produced with the help of the earth and with the effort of the people and in Almer\u00eda they have a lot of this, because there are deserts, but also a lot of water and excellent olive groves.<\/p>\n

The oil of the desert: Castle of Tabernas.<\/h4>\n
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Castillo de Tabernas oil mill. \u00a9 I\u00f1igo Pedrueza<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We visit the Castillo de Tabernas oil mill, located on the edge of the famous and cinematic Tabernas desert.\u00a0How many films have the Bad Lands of Almer\u00eda (and those of the Guadix region and the Gorafe desert in neighboring Granada) taken advantage of to take us to the farwest with cowboys and Indians or the fantastic lands of Game of Thrones, and a thousand other places …<\/p>\n

But why did they not imagine that the olive tree grows on that edge of the desert and another fabulous virgin olive oil is produced?\u00a0One of them, the\u00a0Gourmet Castillo de Tabernas EVOO<\/strong>\u00a0has only 0.1 natural acidity.\u00a0An area with more than three thousand hours of light and abundant water that comes from the aquifers irrigated by the Sierra Nevada produce great oil.\u00a0As in all Spanish EVOO oil mills, Castillo de Tabernas takes care of the entire process to avoid contamination in flavors and aromas, guaranteeing the highest quality.\u00a0EVOOs ooze oleic acid and natural antioxidants, vitamin E.<\/p>\n

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\u00a9 \u00a9 I\u00f1igo Pedrueza<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the company of Mrs.\u00a0Carmen Rueda we<\/strong>\u00a0discovered the Castillo de Tabernas oil mill facilities.\u00a0In this film mill, EVOOs are produced with\u00a0low acidity Extra Green olives;\u00a0monovarietals from Picual, Arbequina and Hojiblancas from the desert;\u00a0<\/strong>y\u00a0a special blend, a blend<\/strong>\u00a0that brings together the best of each variety of olives in the same bottle.\u00a0And we say cinematographic because in its warehouses, next to the steel vats where the precious EVOO is kept, the police series Mar de Pl\u00e1stico was filmed.<\/p>\n

Like Nobleza del Sur, Castillo de Tabernas can personalize the packaging, making EVOO a perfect gift for companies or events.<\/p>\n

For any doubt or question, do not hesitate to fill in the form that we leave below and we will put you in contact with the producers.<\/p>\n

Oleotourism.<\/h3>\n

Finally, remember that both oil mills offer oil tourism services, a niche that is growing a lot.\u00a0A perfect idea that must be developed, since in addition to educating and popularizing the EVOO culture, it is an alternative to mass tourism.\u00a0The activities may include visiting the olive groves and the oil mill, tasting or tasting the oils, breakfasts … And also, in the future, the possibility of staying in rural areas where olive trees grow to feel that harsh and rugged nature that it creates. extra virgin olive oil.<\/p>\n

Gracias.<\/h3>\n

A very special memory for\u00a0Turismo Costa de Almer\u00eda<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0y\u00a0Ja\u00e9n Para\u00edso Interior<\/strong>\u00a0,<\/a>\u00a0for\u00a0Enrique Parra, Mabel Selfa<\/strong>\u00a0respectively, and\u00a0\u00a0Manuel Torres from Factoria de Histories<\/strong>\u00a0for organizing such a wonderful trip.\u00a0And of course for the Nobleza del Sur and Castillo de Tabernas oil mills, for their precious help, without which this article could not have been written.<\/p>\n

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\u00a9 I\u00f1igo Pedrueza<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Written by\u00a0I\u00f1igo Pedrueza Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oils from Ja\u00e9n, at the Nobleza del Sur oil mill.\u00a0\u00a9 I\u00f1igo Pedrueza. Olive oil is something intrinsically linked to Spanish and Mediterranean gastronomy.\u00a0There is always talk of this liquid, reminiscent of gold, which summarizes and oozes the best of the wild nature where the olive tree grows.\u00a0Many countries […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":5917,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[23,24],"class_list":["post-5916","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-destinations","tag-andalusia","tag-destinations"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/casonagranado.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5916","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/casonagranado.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/casonagranado.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/casonagranado.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/casonagranado.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5916"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/casonagranado.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5916\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/casonagranado.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5917"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/casonagranado.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5916"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/casonagranado.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5916"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/casonagranado.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5916"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}