Picual are medium to large, dark green olives, ripening to an even black.
They are grown for their oil. They yield 21 to 25% oil, though can go up to 28%. The bright gold oil is considered medium quality. It has a fruity smell, and a pungent taste with a touch of bitterness, but the taste doesn’t last in your mouth.
The tree is a cultivar that can stand up to even snowy winters. It can pollinate itself. The olives mature middle of November to third week of December.
The tree is native to Spain, and still the most important olive there. 50% of all trees in Spain are still Picual (as of 2004.) It is grown in the Spanish provinces of Jaén, Córdoba and Granada. It is now being grown in Israel as well.
Language Notes
Its name comes from its pointed end, which is “pico” in Spanish.
