A Journey of Passion and Quality
Sharing Our Love for Cooking and Olive Oil with ElOlivo!
Hello! We're Margaret and Janos, and we're genuinely passionate about cooking, especially when it involves the delightful world of Olive Oil. In 2019, we started ElOlivo with a simple aim: to share the joy of premium Olive Oils and more with homes and professional kitchens alike. We truly believe that the heart of a delicious and nourishing meal lies in the careful selection of ingredients. Our love for cooking has driven us to seek out the very best Olive Oils from around the globe, and we're thrilled to bring them to our valued customers. Our range includes thoughtfully sourced and traditionally crafted Olive Oils, ensuring the highest standard of quality.
Choosing the best ingredients ensures you're on the right track.
We strongly believe that selecting ingredients with care is at the heart of cooking, whether you're a professional chef or simply making dinner for your loved ones at home. As a friend once wisely said, 'Choosing the best ingredients ensures you're on the right track.' Incorporating quality olive oils into your cooking process not only enhances the flavors of your dishes but also provides a delightful sensation and satisfies the appetite. Excited to share our newfound passion, we've opened our small business to spread the joy of olive oil to as many people as possible.
Exploring History's Flavors: Olive Oils Embracing the Tales of Their Producers
We source our products directly from our cherished partners to ensure that we can provide our customers with ample information about the oils. In our quest for top-quality olive oils, we've come to realize that olive oil shares similarities with wines. Factors such as geography, geology, climate, and olive cultivars play crucial roles in selecting the perfect oil to complement our tastes. The olive oils you find in our store hail from various historical regions of Spain, Italy, and Greece, each carrying the rich history of local farmers and families who have lovingly tended to their olive trees for generations. Olive oil is truly a remarkable culinary treasure, embodying the history and passion of its producers, and a deep reverence for the land.
Andalusia, Spain
Located in the serene southern region of the Iberian Peninsula, Andalusia holds a special place as a key contributor to Spain's olive oil production, boasting an impressive 62.84% share in 2018. Its unique blend of desert expanses, majestic mountains, and picturesque coastline provides an ideal environment for olive tree cultivation. Andalusia takes pride in nurturing a variety of olive types, including Picual, Hojiblanca, Lechín, Verdial, and Picudo.
Navarra, Spain
Navarra, nestled in Northern Spain and bordered by the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon, boasts a rich olive-growing tradition. Despite facing climatic challenges, Navarra thrives thanks to its high-density olive groves. Among its prized varieties, Arróniz stands out for its resilience to cold and drought. This region's olive cultivation traces back to the ancient Roman Empire, underscoring its historical significance. Navarra is renowned for its diverse olive varieties, including Arróniz, Empeltre, and Arbequina, each contributing to its vibrant culinary heritage.
Castilla–La Mancha, Spain
Nestled in the heart of the Iberian Peninsula, Castilla–La Mancha holds a significant position in Spain's olive oil production, contributing 15.59% (2018) to the country's output. This makes it the second-largest producer of Extra Virgin Olive Oil on the peninsula, following Andalusia. The region's signature variety, Cornicabra, is renowned for its robust flavor profile, characterized by a delightful blend of spiciness, bitterness, and fruitiness. Additionally, the Picual variety plays a vital role in olive oil production here. With numerous award-winning oils emerging from Castilla–La Mancha, it's evident that they are steadily gaining ground and recognition, inching closer to Andalusia's esteemed status.
Murcia, Spain
Nestled along the picturesque Mediterranean coast in the southeast part of the Iberian Peninsula, you'll find the charming region of Murcia. It shares its borders with Andalusia, Castile La Mancha, the Valencian Community, and the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean Sea. While Murcia contributes less than 2% to Spain's olive oil production, it boasts a diverse array of olive varieties, including Cuquillo, Blanqueta, Lechín de Granada Blanqueta, Villalonga, Lechín de Granada, Changlot Real, and Cornicabra, each adding its own unique flavor to the region's culinary tapestry.
Extremadura, Spain
Extremadura, nestled in the picturesque westernmost region of the Iberian Peninsula, is not only renowned for its stunning landscapes but also for its significant contribution to Spain's olive oil production, amounting to 7.96% in 2018. The region's continental climate, characterized by scorching summers and mild winters, creates an ideal environment for olive cultivation, ensuring the production of high-quality oils year after year. Among the olive varieties that thrive in Extremadura's fertile soils are the esteemed Manzanilla Cacereña, Cornicabra, Carrasqueña, and Morisca, each imparting its unique flavor profile to the region's rich culinary heritage. With its dedication to olive cultivation and its bountiful harvests, Extremadura continues to solidify its position as a key player in the world of olive oil production.
Lazio, Italy
Situated in the heart of Italy's central peninsular region, you'll find the charming area of Lazio. Its vibrant capital, Rome, not only serves as the heart of Lazio but also holds the prestigious title of being the capital and largest city of Italy. Olive oil has been an integral part of Lazio's history since ancient times, with the Etruscans being credited with planting the first olive trees in the region, paving the way for a rich and enduring tradition. Today, Lazio continues to play a significant role in Italy's olive oil production, contributing approximately 4% to the country's total output. Among the olive varieties that flourish in Lazio's fertile soil are the beloved Itrana, Rosciola, and Leccino, each adding its own distinctive flavor to the region's culinary landscape.
Umbria, Italy
Nestled in the picturesque central region of Italy, you'll find Umbria, bordered by the enchanting regions of Tuscany, Marche, and Lazio. Its captivating capital, Perugia, beckons visitors with its rich history and cultural treasures. Among its historical gems, Assisi shines brightly as the birthplace of St. Francis of Assisi, captivating hearts with its timeless charm. While contributing 2% to Italy's olive oil production, Umbria is renowned for the exceptional quality of its olive oil. Cultivated with care, varieties like Frantoio, Moraiolo, and Leccino thrive in Umbria's fertile soil, embodying the region's dedication to excellence. Adding to its allure, Umbria boasts native olive varieties such as Moraiolo, Raja, and San Felice, each contributing to the region's rich tapestry of flavors.
Peloponnese, Greece
The Peloponnese, a region of rich cultural and geographical significance, graces the southern landscape of Greece. Its neighboring regions include Western Greece to the north and Attica to the northeast, forming a tapestry of diverse landscapes and traditions. With Trípoli as its capital and Kalamáta as its bustling heart, the Peloponnese is a vibrant hub of activity. Contributing to Greece's olive oil legacy, the Peloponnese Region proudly produces around 60% of the nation's olive oil, a testament to its fertile lands and time-honored agricultural practices. At the heart of its olive cultivation lies the esteemed Koroneiki olive variety, embodying the region's dedication to quality and tradition. While Koroneiki takes center stage, the Peloponnese also boasts groves of Athinolia, Manaki, and Kalamon (Kalamata) varieties, each adding its own unique flavor to Greece's culinary heritage.
Thessaly, Greece
Nestled in central Greece, Thessaly is celebrated for its stunning natural beauty, featuring lush plains, majestic mountains, and a captivating coastline along the Aegean Sea. Surrounded by the breathtaking Pindus Mountains to the west, this region boasts a rich tradition of olive oil production, a cornerstone of its economy. Thessaly's olive oil is renowned for its exceptional quality, distinct flavor, and numerous health benefits, further enhancing Greece's proud agricultural legacy and culinary renown.
Crete, Greece
Crete, the largest Greek island, is a major producer of olive oil, with a tradition dating back to ancient times. The island's Mediterranean climate supports over 30 million olive trees, covering 65% of its cultivated land. Annually, Crete produces 100,000 to 130,000 tons of olive oil, accounting for 35-40% of Greece's total production. Known for its high quality and distinct flavor, Cretan olive oil is a key local staple and a significant global export.
Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal
Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro Province, nestled in the northeastern part of Portugal and bordered by Spain to the east, captivates with its rugged beauty. Its terrain, characterized by deep river valleys and rolling hills, offers an idyllic setting for olive cultivation and the production of exquisite olive oil. Blessed with a Mediterranean climate featuring warm, dry summers and gentle winters, this region provides the perfect conditions for the growth of olive trees, nurturing a rich heritage of olive cultivation spanning centuries. The olive oils crafted here are cherished for their exceptional quality and delightful fruity flavors, making a significant contribution to Portugal's esteemed olive oil industry.
Slovenian Istria
In Istria, Slovenia, the art of olive oil production revolves around a commitment to crafting exquisite extra virgin olive oil. The region's gentle climate and rich soil create the perfect environment for cultivating premium olive varieties. Harvesting, a cherished tradition, unfolds during the autumn months, blending time-honored hand-harvesting techniques with modern processing methods. Istrian olive oil delights with its fruity notes and harmonious flavors, often carrying a subtle hint of spiciness. Producers in this region take pride in their dedication to sustainable and organic practices, resulting in oils of exceptional quality. Istria has rightfully earned acclaim for its outstanding olive oils, a testament to the passion and care invested by its producers.
Pyrénées-Orientales, France
The Pyrénées-Orientales region in southern France is renowned for its high-quality olive oil, thanks to its ideal climate. Local olive varieties such as Arbequina, Poumal, Verdale, Olivière, and Picholine contribute to the region's distinctive oil. Hand-harvested and traditionally cold-pressed, these olives produce exceptional oils that are staples in local cuisine and cherished internationally. The rich agricultural traditions in Pyrénées-Orientales ensure that each bottle of olive oil embodies the region's commitment to quality and authenticity. Visitors to the area can enjoy tours of olive groves and mills, offering a firsthand experience of the meticulous process involved in creating these prized oils.