📜 Aceite de Jaén (olive oil)

“Aceite de Jaén” is an EU protected geographical indication (PGI) for extra virgin olive oil made from olives grown across the whole province of Jaén in Andalusia. The main variety is Picual (over 90 % of the trees in the area), the fruit is picked by 31 December, and the name was entered in the EU register in 2020.

Olive groves cover 582,427 ha — 89.75 % of the province's cultivated land — on more than 100,000 holdings, 76 % of them smaller than 5 ha. The olives grow in all 97 municipalities, from 250 m (Marmolejo) to 1,000 m (Noalejo). The soils are calcareous, the summers very dry, and rainfall is 410–620 mm a year. Unirrigated groves tolerate water stress, and they yield oil with more polyphenols, tocopherols and oleic acid.

Besides Picual, the local Manzanilla de Jaén, Royal de Cazorla and Carrasqueño de Alcaudete are allowed, as well as the non-local Hojiblanca, Arbequina and Picudo; at least 85 % of the oil must come from local varieties. The oil has acidity up to 0.5 %, a peroxide value up to 15, at least 300 mg/kg of polyphenols and over 70 % oleic acid (the norm was changed in 2022). It smells of fresh, healthy olives, and the bitterness and pungency are moderate or distinct.

In the city of Jaén the remains of the Roman oil complex of Marroquíes Bajos survive, dating from the time of Augustus, with six large mills in a row.

Why it matters to you. On the label, look for the words "Indicación Geográfica Protegida "Aceite de Jaén"", the PGI logo and the EU mark, and each container must have the Regulatory Council's numbered label, which cannot be used a second time. The word "Jaén" inside a brand name does not replace these marks.