Biancolilla are medium-sized , oval-shaped olives grown largely in southwestern Sicily that have an oil content of 15 to 18% and yield a good quality, fragrant oil. The tree needs another type of olive tree to pollinate well. Harvesting starts in early October, goes to mid-November. History Notes Native to Sicily, Italy.
Sicilian Olives
Carolea Olives
Carolea Olives are medium to large-sized olives grown both for oil and table olives. It has an oil content of 20 to 25%; the oil is considered good quality. The olives can be mechanically harvested when they are being used for oil. When used for table olives, the olives are available either brine-cured or dry-cured….
Cerasuola Olives
A Sicilian olive grown primarily in the area between Sciacca and Paceco, Sicily, for oil. Its oil is usually blended with that from Nocellara and Biancolilla olives.
Nocellara del Belice Olives
Nocellara del Belice Olives are large, plump olives that make both good table olives and good olive oil. When being used for oil, the olives are harvested early to get a light, fruity oil. For table olives, they are harvested when they reach a brownish-green. The tree is a good producer, but needs another pollinator….
Nocellara Messinese Olives
Nocellara Messinese Olives are grown in the north-east of Sicily, and in Calabria. The olives are ovoid-shaped, and weigh about 5 to 6g each. They have an oil content of around 26%, and used to make table oil. The olives ripen mid-September to mid-October. The tree can pollinate Carolea and Moresca olive trees. Some sources…
Ogliarola Barese Olives
Ogliarola Barese Olives are grown in Basilicata, Campania, Puglia and Sicily for their high oil yield. The tree is cold hardy, but needs another type of olive tree to pollinate it.
Ogliarola Messinese Olives
Ogliarola Messinese is grown throughout Sicily for oil production. Like all Ogliarola cultivars, the olive has a high oil yield. The tree can pollinate itself. Language Notes Occasionally called “Passalunara” but that is actually another olive.
Ottobratica Olives
Ottobratica Olives are a cultivar of olives grown for their oil in Italy. They are harvested in October, just as the olives reach “invaiatura” (colour-change stage.) The harvest is done mechanically, using a machine to shake the trees. The olive turns out a golden yellow, has a mild, fruity taste and a good shelf life….
Passalunara Olives
Passalunara Olives are grown for both table olives and olive oil. Though the olive is only mid-range in terms of the quantity of oil it yields, the trees produce a lot of olives to make up for it. The Passalunara tree needs another olive tree to pollinate it. Grown in Palermo in Sicily, Italy.
Pidiccuddara Olives
Pidiccuddara Olives are a Sicilian olive tree cultivar. We don’t have any more information at this time.
Tonda Iblea Olives
Tonda Iblea Olives are grown around the Ragusa area in Sicily, Italy. They are harvested for oil while still green, just before they start to ripen to black. They yield a greeny-gold oil that has a slight taste of green tomatoes. Some olive oils made are made from 100% Tonda Iblea olives; others will have…