In just 25 years, Catalan olive oils have gone from being an unbranded product, destined for bulk sale, to one of the most appreciated ingredients in cuisine. A high-quality product that, however, remains largely unknown to the vast majority. And it is that, in Catalonia alone, more than 60 native varieties of olives are cultivated, providing oils with their own personality. Many of them, protected under the five protected designations of origin (PDO).
On November 21, 22, and 23, Barcelona residents will have the opportunity to travel through 21 Catalan regions through their EVOO. And it is that, the heart of Barcelona will beat to the rhythm of the new harvest of extra virgin olive oil with the first Mercat de l'Oli Nou (New Oil Market), a great gastronomic festival open to all that wants to reclaim what we so often forget: that oil, that ingredient so much ours, remains largely unknown.
Catalan liquid gold conquers the city center
For three days, the city center will transform into an open-air market where nearly fifty Catalan EVOO producers will offer their first-pressed oil, freshly made, direct from their mills. Oils that can be discovered, tasted, and bought. Without intermediaries, without artifice: just oil in its purest state, with all its freshness, intensity, and truth.
Thus, from Barcelonès to Alt Empordà, from Gironès to Montsià, from Les Garrigues to Segrià, passing through Vallès Occidental, Baix Llobregat, Tarragona, Terra Alta, La Noguera, La Selva, Priorat… One can "travel" through up to 21 regions. Travel, explore, and savor – without leaving Plaza Catalunya – the first-pressed extra virgin olive oils (EVOO) from the producers participating in Barcelona's first Mercat de l'Oli Nou, many of them protected by one of the five protected designations of origin: Les Garrigues, Siurana, Terra Alta, Baix Ebre-Montsià, and Empordà.
New oils from firms such as Olis Bargalló, Cuadrat Valley, Az Azeytun, Empordàlia, Finca Mas Perdut, La Gaeta, Llàgrimes del Canigó, Olearum, Soldeplana, Torclum, or L'Olier, among others, can be discovered.
A great celebration of olive oil culture
The event, promoted by the Departament d'Agricultura, Ramaderia i Pesca de la Generalitat de Catalunya, through PRODECA, is not just a market: it is a celebration of EVOO culture and an invitation to rediscover it with all the senses.
There will be guided tastings, workshops, a Catalan wine bar, and a gastronomic tent with seasonal and local cuisine. And, of course, a schedule of showcookings with some of the most inspiring names in current Catalan cuisine: Ada Parellada, Iolanda Bustos, Carlota Claver, Susana Aragón, Iñaki Aldrey, and the master pastry chef Oriol Balaguer, among others.
Each will show, from their style and territory, the versatility of extra virgin olive oil, that ingredient that enhances a coca de recapte just as it dares to pair with chocolate or perfume a confit.
Rediscovering what has always been there
Extra virgin olive oil is part of our taste memory, the Mediterranean diet, and our roots, but its richness and diversity are still unknown to many consumers.This market aims to break that distance between field and city, between producer and consumer, bringing oil closer to the most urban public and reminding them that behind every bottle there is landscape, work, and culture.
In addition to enjoying the atmosphere, visitors will be able to discover how to differentiate a good oil, how to taste it, how to use it, and how to preserve it. There will be demonstrations, talks, and tastings for all audiences: from the most curious to those who can no longer imagine cooking without a good EVOO.
In short, the New Oil Market will be a sensory and gastronomic experience to celebrate the essence of a product that defines us as a culture. A tribute to the producers who keep the tradition alive and a unique opportunity to fill the pantry with the best oil of the year, directly from their hands.
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