Les Garrigues

Appearance & taste

The oil is lightly to intensely fruity and may have a certain bitterness or pungency. It is obtained by mechanical or other physical processes that alter neither the oil nor the characteristics of the fruit.

Limits apply to the analytical values: the acidity is below 0.5 %, the peroxide value at most 15 meq O₂/kg, the K270 value at most 0.15, the moisture content at most 0.2 % and impurities at most 0.1 %. The label states “Denominación de Origen Protegida Les Garrigues”, and each container bears a numbered seal or control label of the supervisory body that cannot be reused.

Production

The olives of the Arbequina and Verdiell varieties come from registered olive groves and are harvested directly from the tree at the stage of ripeness at which the typical oils can be obtained. The oil is extracted from undamaged, clean olives in registered oil mills under the supervision of approved inspectors.

All steps up to bottling take place in the area; storage and bottling are carried out in registered facilities there. The reason given is that the necessary checks are difficult to carry out effectively outside the area. The oil is tested physically, chemically and organoleptically, and only oil that has passed all checks is placed on the market.

Origin & history

The area lies in the south of the province of Lleida and comprises municipalities of the comarcas of Les Garrigues, El Segrià and L’Urgell, including Les Borges Blanques, Arbeca, La Granadella, Alcarràs, Seròs and Vallbona de les Monges. The specification describes the soils as naturally loose limestone soils and the climate as Mediterranean with continental influences.