The Olive Blossom: The Beginning of the Llàgrimes del Canigó Olive Oil Journey
At Llàgrimes del Canigó, the blooming of the olive trees marks the beginning of a fascinating and crucial process that culminates in the production of our esteemed extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). Located in Agullana, in the Alt Empordà region, our olive groves benefit from an exceptional environment: the Mediterranean sea breeze and the pure water from the Pyrenees. This unique microclimate contributes to the superior quality of our oil, made from the exquisite Argudell variety.
A Family Legacy in Every Drop
Our history dates back generations. Our grandfather began pressing oil in his farmhouse using an old stone mill. Today, we keep this tradition alive at Trull d'Agullana, producing an oil that preserves the nuances and properties of the Argudell variety. Every bottle of Llàgrimes del Canigó is a tribute to our family heritage and the magical land of Empordà.
The Magic of Blooming
The blooming of the olive tree is a critical moment in the annual cycle of our trees. After careful pruning by our team in February and March, new shoots begin to appear in late April. Between May and June, the branches fill with small buds that will flower, giving rise to the precious olives.
These flowers are arranged in clusters of 10 to 40 flowers, depending on the olive variety. They are whitish with a yellow center, and are composed of four petals, a small calyx, a uniform corolla, two stamens, and a limb formed by four lobes.
The Traveling Pollinator
A curious phenomenon of olive tree blooming is that pollen rarely fertilizes flowers of the same variety or the same tree. This pollen can travel great distances, which helps cross-pollinate varieties and ensure genetic diversity and the strength of the species. In fact, Spanish olive pollen has been recorded reaching olive groves in North Africa and vice versa.
The Challenge of Blooming
The blooming of olive trees in the central weeks of May is critical for the future harvest. If blooming is scarce, the harvest will also be. High temperatures in May can cause the flowers to wilt before germinating and producing fruit. Furthermore, only 2% of the total flowers complete the entire cycle, turning into olives. The tree performs a natural selection, shedding some fruits to ensure that only those it can adequately nourish grow.
Cultivating Excellence
At Llàgrimes del Canigó, we are dedicated to meticulously caring for our olive trees. We control water stress and perform the necessary tasks to guarantee the production of high-quality extra virgin olive oil. Every drop of our oil is the result of a process that begins with blooming, a period full of hope and promises for the next harvest.
The blooming of olive trees is not just a spectacle of nature; it is the first step in the creation of the exquisite Llàgrimes del Canigó olive oil, a testament to our passion for excellence and our dedication to tradition.