Olive Castellana tree, also known as Verdeja, is a olive variety originally from Castilla la Mancha.
It has an area of olive grove close to 30,000 hectares located mainly in the Alcarria Conquense. The provinces of Cuenca and Guadalajara have the largest area of Castellana olive, with less presence in Albacete (Roda) and Madrid (Vegas).
Curiosities: the Castellana variety is protected by the PDO “ Alcarria Oil”.
Names or synonyms: The Castellana olive tree is also known with the names: Verdeja, Asperilla, Stream, Verdinal, Camomile, Piñoncilla, Common, Bouche, of Oil, Lemongrass, Teta de Vaca and Reluciente.
Characteristics of the Castellana Olive Tree
The Castellana olive tree is the main variety grown in Alcarria, an area where around 95% of the olive oil of this variety is produced.
Productivity: the Castellana olive variety is intermediate production and high productivity. However, productivity is low in the traditional Alcarria olive grove, where annual rainfall is usually low and the soil is poor in nutrients.
Regularity of bearing: Castellana is a variety of olive trees not very old.
Flowering: The Castellana olive tree blooms in mid season.
Vigor and bearing of the tree: Verdeja is medium vigor, open bearing and thick cup.
Leaf: The Castellana olive variety has the leaves of elliptic-lanceolate form, narrow length and medium width.
Diseases: Castellana olive tree has good resistance to cold, drought, Prays and olive fly. It is moderately sensitive to repilo and sensitive to tuberculosis. The Castellana olive variety stands out for its good ability to adapt to poor land and dry.
Multiplication: The Castellana plant has a good ability to root. It has traditionally been multiplied by stake.
Castellana olives, morphological characteristics
Maturation: the variety of Castellan olives a, is ripening medium.
Size: The fruit of the Castellana olive tree has medium size.
Shape: Castellana olives have ovoidal shape and slightly asymmetric, with absent nipple.
Skin color: when it matures, the Castellana olive reaches maturity a pinkish-red wine color. It has many scarce and small lenticels.
Pulp: insufficient size and quality for table.
Yield: Castellana olive has an average yield (18-20%) of oil, somewhat lower than Cornicabra.
Collection: Verdeja has a medium-high resistance to shedding.
Uses: Used for the olive oil production.
Quality highly appreciated by consumers, it is protected by the PDO Alcarria Oil.
Advantages: olive oil of very good quality, adaptation to poor terrain and adverse weather conditions.
Disadvantages: sensitive to tuberculosis, lower productivity than other varieties.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil Castellana
The Extra Virgin Olive Oil Castellana, is a stable oil of balanced bitterness and itching. On the other hand, in the mouth it stands out for its intense fruity with pleasant aromas of olive leaf and green grass.
The characteristics of its cultivation area have earned it the recognition of PDO Alcarria Oil.
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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.