Mallorcan Olive Oil

Some of the best souvenirs are edible, which is why we decided to hunt down some of the excellent Oli s’illa olive oil served at the Son Brull Hotel.

Mallorcan olive oil is made with three varieties of olives: Mallorcan, gentle and sweet; Arbequina, with a stronger flavor; and Picual, slightly bitter and spicy. Olive oil has been produced in Mallorca for centuries, and the silvery groves are a feature of the island’s landscape. Production dwindled as the economy shifted to tourism, but it is currently enjoying a revival, with some 100,000 liters made annually. The island produces two types of extra-virgin olive oil; the one made with young green olives has a strong, fruity, slightly bitter taste, while oil produced with ripe olives has a sweet finish and is pale yellow. Sa Cisterna (Calle Cisterna 1, Alcúdia) and Botigueta de Sant Miquel (Calle Sant Miquel 79, Palma) both carry a fine selection of Mallorcan olive oils, along with other local delicacies.