Varieties

Get to know some of the olive varieties present in the Alentejo

It is estimated that there are more than 3,000 varieties of olive in the world. When choosing a variety, an olive grower looks mainly for productivity, oil yield and regularity in production.

Galega
According to the National Institute for Agrarian Research and Veterinary (INIAV) the Galega is the most widespread variety in Portugal, representing about 80% of the national olive grove area. Trees of this variety are characterized by their medium-large size, and the fruit is generally small. It is a rustic variety and irregular in production. The olive shows some resistance to spreading, however it falls off sharply at the end of ripening.

Arbosana
Arbosana originates from the Catalonia region and has trees of low vigor. The oil resulting from this variety presents a good aromatic harmony and high levels of bitterness and spiciness.

Cordovil de Serpa
The Cordovil de Serpa is characterized by having small to medium sized trees with noticeably rough, grayish branches. The olive is generally small, and is a productive but irregular variety.

Picual
According to the National Institute for Agricultural and Veterinary Research (INIAV), the Picual is the predominant variety in Spain, and is originally from Andalusia. The trees are medium-sized, and the oil extracted from this variety is fruity and slightly bitter and spicy.

Koroneiki
Koroneiki is a Greek variety with trees of medium vigor. The oil from this type of olive is characterized by its very green color, fruity and slightly spicy and bitter.

Collective
Cobrançosa is a variety that originated in the Trás-os-Montes region and is characterized by its regularity, productivity, and vocation for olive oil production. It has small-to-medium sized trees, with the trunk and branches not very rough or smooth, brittle, and gray-green in color.

Arbequina
Arbequina is a variety of Spanish origin, characteristic of the regions of Catalonia and Alto Aragon. This olive produces a fluid and sweet olive oil, in which there are almost no bitter or spicy flavors, with a fruity aroma of olives, apple, banana and almond

Verdeal Alentejo
This variety is characterized by having medium-large trees with medium-long branches, and being quite regular and productive. The olive is medium-large in size and ripens late.

Sources: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (1981). Decree-Law No. 76/2010, of June 6, 2010. CPBS – Católica Porto Business School & ESB – School of Biotechnology (2021). Partidário (2014). INIAV (2014). Leitão, F. et al., (1986). Olive oils from Spain (2022). Agromillora (2022).

Get to know some of the olive varieties present in the Alentejo

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