Arbequina olive tree, is currently expanding. It adapts well to super high density olive grove in hedge with high and constant productions . In the year 2000, there were hardly in Spain about 1,000 hectares of olive grove in hedge and now (2017 ) We exceed 70,000 hectares, which has meant a spectacular increase (4,000 ha/year).
The Arbequina olive tree is traditional of the Spanish province of Catalonia, being the most widespread variety.
Curiosities: The name “Arbequina“, derives from the population reference for the Arbequina variety in Spain Arbeca (Lleida). Although really the Arbequina variety, it was introduced from Palestine in the 17th century.
Synonyms: the Arbequina olive tree is also known with the names Arbequí, Arbequín and Blancal.
Features of the Arbequina Olive Tree
Although for centuries, the Arbequina olive tree variety has been cultivated in traditional olive groves, its good adaptation to modern production systems has facilitated its expansion. Arbequina presents good characteristics for hedge plantation, high planting density, low vigor, high production, low regularity of bearing… The registered clones Arbequina i-18 and Arbequina i-21 are the most used in new olive plantations.
Both in Spain and in the rest of the world, agriculture is being modernized and there is increasing mechanization of the work.
Productivity: the variety of olive tree Arbequina, has entry into production early and high productivity . Its precocity is comparable to Manzanilla Cacereña and improves to Picual and Hojiblanca.
Regularity of bearing: Arbequina is a constant variety of production. In addition, early harvesting is performed to obtain good quality oils (Arbequina olive oil is poorly resistant to oxidation).
Flowering: the variety of Arbequina olives, is self-fertile and medium flowering.
Vigor and bearing of the tree: the Arbequina olive tree is of vigor medium-low and of open bearing. The vigor can be increased to a medium-low level in areas with short winters.
Leaf: the Arbequina olive variety has the leaf elliptical, short and medium width
Diseases: Arbequina is considered cold resistant, tolerant to salinity, repilo and tuberculosis. Depending on the source, it is considered sensitive or with some tolerance to Verticillium (more tolerant than Picual). It is sensitive to the fly chlorosis in very limestone soils.
Arbequina olive tree care: When grown in hedge and collected by harvesters, the Arbequina olive tree demands additional care. It is essential to apply copper treatments against tuberculosis and repilo.
Multiplication: The Arbequina plant has a very high rooting capacity.
By multiplying easily and with a high success rate, you can buy Arbequina plants in the olive nurseries at good price.
Arbequina olives, morphological characteristics
Although in traditional cultivation areas the Arbequina olive has been used for table olives. Arbequina does not have good characteristics for table olives, having a small size and a relatively large bone.
Maturation: The olive class Arbequina is ripening early.
Size: Arbequina is among the varieties of olives of size small, with just 1 or 2 grams. Its small size makes it difficult to collect using vibrators, which is why it is preferred to plant it in hedge (olive harvest with harvester).
Shape: olives Arbequina, has symmetrical and spherical shape.
Skin color: The Arbequina olive, reaches maturity, when the skin is black. However, the collection must be done with no more than 1/3 of the ripe olives.
Pulp: Arbequina has a relationship pulp/bone very low. Therefore, dress olives Arbequinas is rare.
Peduncle: The peduncle of the Arbequina olive is medium size and the olives have no nipple.
Yield: Arbequina olive has a high yield of oil in traditional culture. However, super-intensive crops with productions of around 15 tons/ha, the yield of the Arbequina olive is 14-17%.
Collection: olives Arbequina has medium resistance to shedding, together with its low weight, make difficult its collection with olive harvesters or trunk vibrators. The large plantations of Arbequina have been carried out in hedge and can be easily harvested using grape harvesting.
Due to their low resistance to oxidation, Arbequina olives are picked at the beginning of the campaign, when many olives are still green. Thanks to this, Arbequina olive oils are usually quite fruity.
Uses: The variety of Arbequina olives is used for oil production.
Arbequina Oil
Taste: The Extra Virgin Arbequina oil is aromatic, sweet and of flavor soft (little bitterness and itching). It is a good oil for the public less accustomed to the itching and bitterness of varieties such as Verdial or Cornicabra.
Properties: the Arbequina oil, is very little stable, therefore, its conservation in controlled atmosphere deposits is necessary (Nitrogen). Its low resistance to oxidation makes it advisable to mix it with high stability oils, such as Picual, Cornicabra or Manzanilla Cacereña. It combines well with these oils, helping to soften its flavor.
Curiosities: Arbequina oil barely lasts a year before getting dirty. When 100% Arbequina oil is sold, it is made in containers of less than one liter, to prevent damage.
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Warning
We have translated the information on our website from Spanish to English. Note that some words may have seen their meaning altered during their translation.