Which is the best olive oil? Nobody can tell for sure. There are thousands olive cultivars. Thousands of areas where it is produced all around the world. And no two seasons are alike.
There were olive trees cultivated for quite some time in western Slovenia. In recent years it became again more popular. Compared to other traditional olive growing areas is the olive tree area in Slovenia very small. So is the quantity of oil. Olive trees are cultivated in Slovenian part of Istria, Brda and recently again some even in Vipava valley. Most planted cultivar is Belica, folowing by others like Leccino, Frantoio, Pendolino, Črnica, Maurino, Buga...Belica gives a very spicy, herbal oil, one has to get used to it. Other cultivars give less spicy oil, easier to combine with all kind of food. Therefore Belica is often blended with other oil like Leccino or even more other cultivars oil.
If you consider olive oil tastings, some of best extra-virgin olive oils in the world come from Slovenia.There are olive oils from Slovenia which frequently get highest awards and recognitions. One of the most prestigious competitions Sol D'oro takes place each year in Verona, Italy. This years winner in the category of medium intensive oils is Boris Jenko with his extra-virgin olive oil, made of Frantoio cultivar. But there are others many times highly awarded producers like Dujc, Moljk, Jakomin, Morgan, Novak to name just some of them. Extraordinary for such small area. Past winter put a lot of stress on olive trees because of drought, low temperatures and persistent bora. Next years competitions will show the impact.
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| Dried and roasted olives in olive oil |
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