At Ad Morum, we owe everything to our land and its history, which gave us the fortune of producing "green gold," Jaén's Extra Virgin Olive Oil. This is our tradition and great passion.
Jaén, everything behind the olive tree
There is a history behind the olive groves in Jaén and how this province has earned its identity as the "World Capital of Olive Oil." We recognize Jaén as the largest producer of Olive Oil, generating 20% of the world's production.
The production of EVOO has become the most relevant economic activity within the province. Jaén has the largest olive grove plantation, with approximately 70 million olive trees and 586,000 hectares. This accounts for 42% of the total olive grove area in Andalusia and 25% of Spain's.
78% of Jaén's surface area is dedicated to olive cultivation for oil mills. Not only that, but this province has a high level of top-tier companies in the service and administration sectors, along with other renowned agricultural and food companies.
The origin and roots of olive cultivation in Jaén
Phoenician colonies are responsible for introducing the first olive trees from Mesopotamia. These olive trees originated from one of the oldest oil mills in the world: Aleppo, the heart of present-day Syria. The introduction of olive trees to the Iberian Peninsula began in the Levante region, spreading across the Mediterranean area and into southern Andalusia, with Jaén and Cordoba leading olive oil production in the 1st century. Thus, 2,000 years ago, Jaén and Cordoba became the major oil suppliers to the Roman Empire. We can proudly assert that Olive Oil has been part of Jaén and Andalusia's history for 2,000 years.
Throughout the Roman era, olive oil was exported from Andalusia to the metropolis, with its importance and interest in the region growing in subsequent periods such as the Middle Ages and modernity. From the 19th century onwards, with the introduction of irrigation and improved communication infrastructure, oil production grew in terms of both plantations and global sales.
Over time, the revaluation of Extra Virgin Olive Oil as a quality product has fostered interest, earning it a high level of regard.
Olive oil cultivation in Jaén today
The quality that distinguishes Olive Oil today is justified by the continuous improvement and innovation in oil mill production techniques. The creation of designations of origin in the province of Jaén aims to guarantee and supervise manufacturing processes.
Currently, in our province, the Picual olive variety is predominantly cultivated. Experts in the sector affirm that the fruit of the Picual olive tree is recognized as the best for oil production. This variety is the most prominent in the market, with Picual olives accounting for 30% of global production. In smaller quantities, other olive varieties such as Arbequina, Hojiblanca, and Manzanilla are cultivated.
The olive tree needs some cold, but it is also characterized by its resistance to warm and dry conditions. It can produce better with some water stress, which was decisive when deciding where to plant. In this case, Jaén is characterized by a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, where average-warm temperatures prevail, a perfect climate for cultivating olive trees.
At Ad Morum, we uphold the olive-growing tradition of our land, while also committing to innovation and the new endeavor to promote sustainability in our sector. Now that you know its history, try Jaén's Picual Variety Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Take a look at our online store!
