Portuguese olive oil

The history of Portuguese olives and olive oil is longer than the foundation of Portugal. It is believed that history from Portuguese olive oil and olives goes bas probably back to the Bronze age and certainly goes back to the time of Romans. Since its foundation olive oil has been part of Portuguese cuisine.
The olive trees can live thousands of years, in the Algarve there is a tree with an estimated age of 2000 years. Approximately four fifths of olive trees grown in Portugal are from Galega olive cultivar. The distinctive character from Portuguese olive oil is due to the Galega olives. There are 7 regions with European recognition of locality and content and stamp or origin, known as DOP: "Azeite de Moura", "Azeite de Trás-os-Montes", "Azeites do Ribatejo", "Azeites do Norte Alentejano", "Azeite da Beira Alta", "Azeite da Beira Baixa" and "Alentejo Interior". Table olives are important in Portuguese cuisine and are eaten from north to south of Portugal.

[Portuguese gourmet]