What are early harvest oils?
Traditionally, olive harvesting began with the celebration of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, that is, on December 8th.
In recent years, this custom has changed radically with the appearance of the so-called early harvest extra virgin olive oils. Although there is no specific date for their collection, these oils are considered to be obtained from olives harvested during veraison, that is, when the olive changes color from green to purple, or even earlier.
The start of the harvest largely depends on the climate of each area, but it generally begins in early October and ends around mid-November. During these months, temperatures can still be high, so harvesting is usually done during the cooler hours of the day to avoid damaging the fruit.
Due to the degree of olive ripeness, the oil yield of early harvest oils is lower than that of traditional extra virgin olive oils. While the latter typically have a yield between 20% and 25%, early harvest oils average between 12% and 14%. In other words, more kilograms of olives are needed to obtain early harvest olive oils.
But what makes these early harvest oils special?
Visually, they stand out for their bright green color. In tasting, they are characterized by fresh herbaceous and fruity aromas and flavors, much more intense than in extra virgin olive oils made from more mature olives, which, although excellent, present softer nuances.
An increasing number of producers have adopted this trend, reserving part of their harvests for the production of this type of oil, which is increasingly valued both in the domestic and international markets.
It is important to note that the early harvest category is not officially regulated, unlike the extra virgin category, so it is not subject to specific controls. Its use is at the discretion of the producers as an additional quality distinction.
Although there is still not enough perspective to know whether it is a passing trend, official data indicates that in recent years the production of these oils has increased from representing 5% to 20% of the total volume produced.
