The olive oil festival was held this Sunday in Sorède, a small village in the Pyrenees Orientales (66). The public was invited to vote for the different oils proposed, under the watchful eye of members of the ‘Confrérie des Chevaliers de l’Olivier du Languedoc-Roussillon’. The second prize was won by our friends from Moulin de Minerve in Pézilla-la-Rivière and Huile des Orgues was acclaimed by the public. All our thanks to the organizers, in particular Romain Beyssac, from the town hall, and to the animators (sardana groups, orchestra, etc.).
Author: Philippe
There are now 6 olive oil with citrus in our range: yuzu (the Japanese lemon), bergamot orange (the famous flavor of the Earl Grey Tea), tangerine, citron, lemon from Menton and kaffir lime (the lemon from Madagascar and La Réunion called Combava in French). You’ll find the best way to use them as a dressing on fish, fish carpaccio, ceviche and salads. You’ll be amazed if you pour a few drops on a waffle or a pancake. Enjoy! For the travellers: the 100 ml flask can be taken with you in the cabin if you travel by plane. Good to know!
The citron is an enormous lemon that is frequently found in Corsica but which also grows in the Roussillon. Citron olive oil is obtained by pressing the fruit with the olives in the mill. It has a very particular woody character.
In the past, the department 66 was a significant olive oil producer. After the terrible winter in 1956, olive trees were replaced by peach, abricot or cherry.
THere are seven local varieties of Roussillon olive: oliviere (the most known), poumal, glory, verdale de Millas, courbeil, argoudeil and redouneil. Other varieties exist in the department like arbequine from Spain, Lucques from Languedoc, Picholine from the Gard department
passionate producers of olive oil from Pyrenees Orientales gathered in a union to make possible a protecteed designation of origine ‘Roussillon Olive Oil’, with the help of INAO (national institute in charge of this label)
THis is for promoting local varieties of olive which give to the oil such a particular taste. ALso to encourage tradtional production, refusing intensive fruit hedges: according to the specifications, trees should be at 7 meters from each others to get all the sun. the Roussillon olive oil logo is a tree (oliviere, very specific) with the mont Canigou in the back ground
Many visitors despite the rain on Sunday to meet with specialists and producers and prepare the garden for the new year. honey, olive oil, trees, rose, orchidea, medicinal plants… A great event during the first weekend of March 2024 in the public room ‘La Catalane’.