Portugal is unthinkable without olive trees. Portuguese cuisine would be unthinkable without olive oil. Olive oil is a major economic factor for Portugal. This year’s harvest is still underway in the north and has already been completed in other parts of the country.
I am on an olive farm near Coimbra. The couple Guilherme Marije run the small farm and produce their own oil and sell it directly. www.passeite.com/
I am a guest here for three days. Gui explains that there are over 1,600 varieties of olive oil. Their harvest is almost complete. What’s new to me is that there are no green and black varieties, but that the colour is a question of the ripeness of the fruit.
Although the farm is not certified organic, the production is. No poisons are used, but the fruit fly is removed or at least reduced by grazing the sheep.
The olives are washed here on the farm and pressed into oil. Some olive varieties are processed as a single variety, others are blended.
I can savour the taste and smell of excellent olive oil during a tasting of their three varieties (Delecate, Balanced & Intense). From banana to artichoke and tomato. The fruity oil is my favourite. It’s all a matter of taste.
It is worth visiting the very informative homepage. Marije Passos is now one of the well-known oil sommeliers. If you want to learn more about her About Marije | evoosommelier.
Of course I couldn’t resist buying a small selection of oils
Condeixa -a-Nova | 24th Nov 2023 | REH
