Ibiza's olive growers and oil producers are so proud of their product that they have introduced a brand to distinguish it from other products. Any olive oil bearing the marque Oli d'E (the E is for Eivissa, the Catalan name for Ibiza) is guaranteed to have been totally cultivated and produced on the island in an environmentally friendly manner and been subject to strict quality controls.
Just like wine, the flavour and aroma of olive oil depends on the variety of olive , the soil it is grown in, and also the temperature, water and sunshine it is exposed to. Because of this there is a wide variety of olive oil pressed under the Oli d'E banner by several different producers, though all classed as Virgin Olive Oil.
Keep your eye open in the supermarkets or Ibiza airport shop for the following names; Oliada, Can Miquel Guasch, Joan Benet, Can Rich, Es Pla de n'Ortiz, Oli Can Garrovers, Balanzat, Can Nefra and Can Domo.
Let's take a look at the amber nectar produced by Joan Benet in his finca in Benimussa close to San Jose village. He amazed his neighbours by tearing up carob, almond and fig trees in 1996 in order to clear his land for the planting of around a thousand olive trees, the majority of them arbequina and a few dozen of the picual variety.
Joan reckons that because of the almost individual treatment his trees receive, and choosing the optimum moment of ripeness to harvest the olives, his oil – produced in a modern press – has the best concentration and intensity of flavours. It's a coupage (see, they even use the wine making term for blend) of 90% arbequina – delicate and complex – and 10% picual which is stronger and more intense, which all adds up to a Mediterranean taste sensation!
Best used on local favourites pa amb tomaquet (bread and chopped tomatoes) and pa amb oli (garlic bread) with a little salt, or as a salad dressing, it's way too good to waste as a cooking oil, get some cheap stuff from the supermarket for the frying pan!
It comes in quarter and half litre bottles which sell for 'around' the €5 and €9 mark depending on the retailer and if you'd like to take a little tour of the finca and production units, Joan will be happy to show you round. Give him a call – all the information and maps, it's really easy to find – http://www.joanbenet.es/ (website is in Spanish)
