Every autumn, the Spanish city of Baena in Andalusia hosts the Olive and Olive Oil Festival (Las Jornadas del Olivar y el Aceite), dedicated to the end of the harvest in olive groves, as well as everything related to these unique fruits. It has been held annually since 1998, from 9 to 11 November, and is the largest European olive oil and olive festival.
The small town of Baena is considered one of the world leaders in the production of olive oil, which, in turn, is the basis of true Andalusian cuisine. Therefore, at the festival it is customary to thank earthly and heavenly gifts with fun, music, dancing and a generous feast. After all, it is in November that the harvest has already been fully harvested and processed, and local residents are ready for the arrival of thousands of tourists to share this delicacy.
It is worth noting that in Spain there are hundreds of varieties of olives and olives – from black to pale yellow. After all, just as it is impossible to imagine Italian cuisine without the famous Parmesan cheese, it is so simply unrealistic to imagine Spanish dishes without olive. In general, Spain accounts for 45% of global olive oil production, and Baena – is one of the two regions in Andalusia that are famous for the greatest diversity in olive use, also called the «Spanish olive capital». The area of olive orchards around the city is about 400 square meters. km.
Olive – is the oldest fruit crop, and was widespread in primitive society; Even then people knew about its healing properties. The history of olive tree cultivation began about 6-7 thousand years ago, and wild olives have existed since prehistoric times. The Greeks were the first to make olive oil, then this « skill» appeared in other territories. For the oil and table olive trade, ancient Greece developed shipbuilding. Even ancient Russians bought olives from Greek merchants at the table of the princes of Kyiv. Olive oil was already considered the main source of youth and beauty. Homer called it liquid gold, Aristotle separated the study of the beneficial properties of olive oil into a separate science, Lorca devoted poetry to olive, Hippocrates confirmed the beneficial properties of olive oil and created several treatments using it. And today this magical oil is valued more than any other oil in the world.
After all, a tiny olive – is a spacious vessel half filled with selected oil. The second half of – is a delicate peel and miracle bone, which easily dissolves in the intestines without a trace, which only the most useful representatives of the natural world are capable of. Olive from a limited number of them. It is successfully used by culinary specialists, doctors and perfumers. The main feature and value of olive oil – is that it contains a large amount of oleic acid, thanks to which cholesterol is removed from the body and the aging process slows down. Real olive oil (first cold pressing) must be unrefined, unfiltered, without preservatives or dyes, and free from defects in taste and aroma.
And, of course, picking olives – is a whole ritual. The fruits do not carry hands during the harvest, so open bags are laid out under the trees, sticks are hit on the trunks, and the olives fall directly into the bags. They are collected only green and at dawn – the heat harms the fruit harvest. The olives consumed are varied. There are almost two hundred types of these fruits in the European Union's trading account, and olive oil – is like wine. Like a drink, it can be elite, ordinary and fake. However, olive oil is more capricious than wine –; it is harder to store, and its age is short.
Therefore, the Olive Festival in Spain is organized on a special scale. Attention is paid to all areas of life associated with this magical product: gastronomy, economics, health. First of all, everyone can take part in all kinds of – tastings, try local gourmet dishes, learn national recipes for dishes with olives, and what is prepared from them.
Festival guests can also get acquainted with the conditions for growing and processing olives, see with their own eyes the process of cold pressing of olive oil and, of course, taste its best varieties. Experts say that tasting olive oil – is as subtle and complex a process as tasting wine, and ancient dishes made from olives and olives deserve a special place in modern cuisine.
In addition, during the festival you can attend a variety of exhibitions and concerts, performances and conferences, cooking competitions and thematic lectures, exciting master classes from the most famous chefs. Also within the framework of the festival, a fair-auction is held, which attracts restaurateurs and wholesale buyers from all over the world; this is the largest event of this type.
Naturally, everything is not limited to just olives and butter. All guests of the holiday will be able to try local wines and a huge number of Andalusian dishes. The entire action is accompanied by dancing and music.
Although the festival program changes slightly every year, the main event of the «olive» holiday remains unchanged – this is Ruta de la Tapa (Tapas Road – hot and cold Spanish snacks). Spanish has the verb tapear –, which translates to « going to bars, chatting with friends, drinking wine and eating tapas». The best restaurants, cafes and bars in the city take part in Ruta de la Tapa. Each establishment creates a special mini-menu of three dishes made from olives or using olive oil. Anyone can taste them. But the most persistent, the one who visits all establishments offering tapas in one evening, will receive a – 50 liter prize of selected olive oil and lunch for two in a restaurant that will be recognized as the best «olive» place at this festival.
Another interesting place in Baena related to olives, – is the Oliva Museum (Museo del Olivo), located in the city center. It is also worth a visit to have a complete understanding of how olives are grown and processed and to join the rich history of olive culture.
The Olive Festival in Spain – is not only a bright and festive event, they try to highlight all aspects of the possible use of olives and olive oil, and also remind how important this plant is for the whole world as a whole and for each person individually. In Spain, they never tire of saying that it is enough to eat a dozen olives before a meal, and then a heart attack and stroke do not threaten. In addition, hot Spaniards are sure that olives – are vegetable oysters: with their help, love fervor does not fade, but flares up with a bright flame.