In the Tunisian olive grove, the variety of Chemlali olive tree from Sfax stands out, thanks to its great ability to adapt to drought.
It extends along the east coast of the country from the cities of Korba to Gabes. The variety works well in the south of Tunisia, however, in the central area, olive trees are more sensitive to tuberculosis and in the north of the country the oil is difficult to extract. Chemlali endures drought even better than other African olive varieties such as Picholine Marocaine.
Curiosities: the trees are very vigorous and over time can reach an enormous size, one of the largest Tunisian olive trees, came to produce in a single campaign, more than 2,000,000 olives equivalent to approximately 1,000 kg of weight.
Names or synonyms: Sfax Chemlali olive tree is also called: Chemlali and Sahali.
Characteristics of the Chemlali Olive Tree of Sfax
The olive tree Chemlali de Sfax stands out for its high capacity for water use. This feature allows its cultivation successfully in semi-desert land with very low annual rainfall, some years below 100 mm (average 200 liters / m 2).
Productivity: Sfax Chemlali olive variety is productive, but takes time to produce (shortly).
Regularity of bearing: The Chemlali olive variety is of alternating production (vecera).
Flowering: Sfax Chemlali is a variety of self-compatible olives and early flowering. It produces a high amount of pollen.
Vigor and bearing of the tree: Sahali is of vigor very high, bearing vertical and glass of thick density.
Leaf: Sahali olive variety leaf is medium size and forms elliptic-lanceolate.
Diseases: Sfax Chemlali olive tree is very resistant to drought (when it has not been grafted) and has some salinity tolerance. However, it is sensitive to tuberculosis.
Multiplication: Sahali olive class has low rooting capacity. It is difficult to multiply in nursery, despite this, it is preferable not to graft on another pattern, since drought resistance is reduced.
Chemlali olive, morphological characteristics
Sfax Chemlali olive is very small in size, being of low quality for dressing. Chemlali olive oil has a fatty composition and organoleptic characteristics with important differences compared to other olive varieties.
Maturation: Chemlali has late maturation.
Size: Chemlali olive is small size (less than 1 gram).
Shape: Sahali is shaped elliptical and symmetric, with the absence of nipple.
Skin color: Sfax Chemlali olive variety is harvested with vinous red.
Pulp: the olive is not enough size for dressing.
Yield: Sfax Chemlali olive olives are high yield (between 20 and 25%).
Collection: Chemlali fruits in clustered clusters, this formation helps in its harvest, despite its small size.
Uses: Sfax Chemlali is a variety of olives suitable for oil production in oil mill.
Advantages: High productivity, ability to adapt to arid lands.
Olive oil very rich in linoleic.
Disadvantages: irregular production. Production problems outside their usual growing area.
Chemlali Extra Virgin Olive Oil
The Extra Virgin Chemlali olive oil of Sfax, is fluid in texture, with a smooth and very fruity flavor. With little bitterness and a slight spicy touch at the end.
Properties: Extra virgin olive oil Chemlali has a low amount of oleic acid (55-59%), however, its acid content Linoleic (16-20%) is far superior to other oils and helps improve stability.
Price: Chemlali Extra Virgin Olive Oil can reach prices of € 40/liter outside Tunisia.
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