Oil tourism routes through Andalusia: a journey through olive oil landscapes, festivals and tables
Oil tourism is a very entertaining way of exploring Andalusia, the largest extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) producing area in the world, by visiting the olive groves, mills, oil museums, farmhouses, festivals, tastings and enjoying its gastronomy in restaurants where EVOO has a place of honour in the kitchen.
Jaén is the first producer in the world and olive trees are part of the lives of many people from Jaén and also the festive calendar. The Festival of the First Oil is the most important one and every year it is celebrated in a different town in the province, which has a total of three Designations of Origin: Sierra de Segura, Sierra de Cazorla and Sierra Mágina.
In the province of Jaén, we find the Oro Bailén oil mill, chosen as the Best in the World; and Aire de Jaén, which offers delicious experiences such as being able to make your own EVOO or taste the oil in the countryside, on the banks of the Guadalquivir, and even sleeping among olive trees. Also in Jaén you can find the mill of Castillo de Canena, with an olive-growing history that started in 1780.
The Oleícola San Francisco mill in Begíjar is a pioneer in oil tourism and offers a variety of activities such as workshops, experiences, guided tours, while the Cortijo Espiritu Santo mill located in a 17th century farmhouse near Úbeda, offer the chance to taste typical dishes made with its oil. In Baeza you shouldn't miss the Olive Culture Museum and La Casa del Aceite, and in Úbeda, the Olive Grove and Oil Centre.
The Terra Oleum Museum is a modern interactive centre located in Mengíbar, offering an easy and entertaining way to discover the world of EVOO. In Sierra de Cazorla mountains we can visit the La Almedina Historic Mill, an old stately manor that preserves some impressive items, such as the enormous beam of the press, and has rural accommodation. In Sierra Mágina we can live the experience of being "Olive-pickers for a day".
As for the varieties of EVOO, in Andalusia we can find Picual, the fruitiest and most abundant in Cordoba, Granada, Jaén and Malaga; Hojiblanca, more bitter and with an almond aftertaste, which is abundant in Malaga, Seville and Cordoba; and Arbequina, increasingly popular in Andalusia, which produces smooth, delicate and slightly spicy oil.
To sum up, Andalusia is the perfect destination for those who love extra virgin olive oil and the culture of olive trees. With its oil routes, festivals and museums, it is possible to learn everything about EVOO, "liquid gold", and taste this gem of Andalusian gastronomy.
