Picual olive oil: Andalusia's bold standard
Jaén, Andalusia
Picual is the most planted olive variety in the world, covering over 20% of all olive cultivation globally and producing more than half of Spain's olive oil. It is Jaén's oil — from the province in inland Andalusia that contains the largest continuous olive grove on earth, visible from space. Picual oil is characterised by high polyphenol content (which means exceptional stability, shelf life, and health value), a pronounced green-grass and tomato-leaf aroma, and a noticeable bitterness and peppery finish.
The bitterness and pepper in a fresh-harvest picual are a sign of quality, not defect — they indicate high polyphenol content and freshness. Within six months of harvest, the bitterness rounds and the fruitiness becomes more prominent.