You pour it on your salads, mix it into your pasta dishes, and use it to fry mouthwatering steaks. Olive oil is tasty and has so many health benefits. But, do you know where it comes from and which countries make the best olive oil?
Expat Explore has found 10 countries that pride themselves on excellent varieties of this product. A lot of these countries can be seen when touring in Europe. So, what is olive oil made of? And which country produces the most olive oil? Learn everything you need to know about the best universal, delicious liquid gold right here!
How is olive oil made?
The process of how olive oil is made is relatively simple and very easy to understand. It all starts with olives, so those of you who might have wondered, “is olive oil made with olives?”, the answer is yes.
The olives are mechanically or chemically ground to extract their oil. This product is made from the liquescent fat of the olives themselves. Here are some things that set the best olive oil apart from the rest:
- Bitterness
- Fruitiness
- Pungency
- Complexity
- Harmony of the blend
- Persistent aftertaste
The best olive oil comes from well-grown olives and a smooth and efficient oil-making process. Below you’ll find a few of the countries that excel in the industry.
10 Countries famous for olive oil production
There are many more countries beyond this list that produce excellent olive oil. However, we simply cannot include all of the many olive oil producing countries in one list! These are just a few of the top olive oil producing countries in the world. Each of these destinations have prominent olive oil farms and celebrate this tasty oil with its local cuisine.
1. Spain
Starting with olive oil royalty, Spain has been producing quality olive oil for years. With a record of 1,059,194 tons of olive oil being produced from 1994 to 2013, according to FAOSTAT, Spain is a heavyweight provider. If you were eagerly waiting to find out what country produces the most olive oil, you have it right here.
The combination of Spain’s ideal climate and location makes it the best country for cultivating mouthwatering olives. You may be wondering which region of Spain exports olive oil worldwide – that would be Andalucía, a coastal area in the country.
You can explore the splendours of this incredible country on one of our popular Spanish tours.
2. Greece
Greece has been recorded to use up to 60% of its land to produce our favourite culinary oil. With over 2,800 olive oil mills countrywide, we can feel the passion that Greece has for olive oil.
The region known most famously for producing record amounts is the Peloponnese region.
Related: When visiting Greece, be sure to try these delicious drinks and dishes!
3. Italy
Italy is known to produce the second-largest amount of olive oil. Most of the olive oil in Italy comes from the southern regions, such as Sicily, Basilicata and Sardinia.
This is where the most revered farms reside, known for their extraordinary olive oil. Some of these farms can be seen while enjoying a highlights of Southern Italy tour.
4. Tunisia
Tunisia is a country in North Africa, and its main agricultural export is olive oil. It has a sterling reputation for providing superior quality olive oil. Tunisia ships tons of this product annually to countries like the USA, Spain, Portugal and France.
With some of the most advanced olive oil reserves, Tunisia never ceases to surprise and delight us with this export.
5. Portugal
Known as one of the most ancient places for producing olive oil, Portugal brings us some of the crème de la crème of this product. Olive trees cover a vast amount of land in Portugal and have since the Roman ruling era.
Related: You can see the Portuguese countryside and take in all of its highlights on our Spain and Portugal tour.
6. The United States of America
It comes as no surprise that a country like the USA would be famous for olive oil production. However, California is the only prominent olive oil-producing state in the whole country.
Companies like the COOC ensure that all of the olive oil produced has a seal of quality excellence, and has been tested for purity. This is because California has the best climate for cultivating just about everything, including flourishing olive trees.
7. Argentina
There are so many reasons to visit Argentina! With gorgeous natural landscapes, friendly people and great food, Argentina is the perfect place to enjoy some world-class olive oil. Most wineries in Argentina also produce olive oil as the soil is ideal for both olives and grapes.
Argentinian olive oil even won a 1st place award for its taste in the International Olive Oil Council’s tasting competition. We’re sure to see this country remaining on top, with olive oil that has distinctive flavours and textures.
8. France
With Picholine olives originating in Southern France, we can rest assured that this country has the best resources. Although the production levels are small, the superiority of the olive oil taste makes this country stand out. France is all about quality over quantity when it comes to the cultivation of olive oil.
9. Egypt
Known as the birthplace of the olive tree, there is a legend in Egypt that tells the tale of Isis – the goddess of life and magic – teaching the Egyptians how to create olive oil. Although this is only a myth, we love the passion in which this product is made in this country. Some of Egypt’s finest olive oil brands are Golden Field, Isis, and Pioneer.
Related: You can bask in the ancient glory of Egypt and discover its magic on our Nile Jewel adventure.
10. Turkey
Last but certainly not least, Turkey (now officially known as Türkiye) is internationally recognised for its olive oil expertise. Turkey produces around 200,000 tons of olive oil annually and olive oil production in Turkey dates back to the 6th century BC! As Turkish cooking uses olive oil for most recipes, Turkish olive oil is milder and fresh in flavour.
A top ingredient for everything from luxury cuisine to everyday meals and salads, olive oil is loved worldwide for its diverse ability and rich, flavour-enhancing qualities. Each of these unique countries has plenty to offer, including remarkable cuisine that more often than not goes hand-in-hand with olive oil.
Olive oil is loved internationally for its health properties and taste. The olive tree is a plant that brings joy to many kitchens worldwide. We have these top olive oil production countries to thank for providing us with some of the most incredible quality brands!
Travel to these destinations to experience some of the world’s best cuisine, combined with the best olive oil, and enjoy a tasty travel adventure! Looking for a way to tick multiple countries off your bucket list? Have a look at our multi-country Europe tours or check our list of upcoming tours.
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