During the month of April, our olive groves dress up to celebrate one of the most important events in their life cycle: flowering. Although the flowering season for olive trees is usually in mid-May, in our orchard this wonderful stage occurs earlier. The reason? Our privileged location, which favours a much earlier growth and ripening process. This natural phenomenon, full of beauty and meaning, marks the beginning of a new reproductive cycle and is an experience not to be missed.
A mature olive tree can produce around 500,000 flowers, but only a small fraction, between 1 and 2%, will develop into mature fruit. These dazzling and delicate flowers appear when the flower buds reach maturity and open slowly.
During flowering, pollen from the male flowers is dispersed by the wind to the female flowers, resulting in fertilisation. Subsequently, the ovary of the fertilised flower transforms into a structure known as a drupe, beginning the development of the olive. Throughout this process, the drupe undergoes significant changes in size, colour and internal composition, which become more evident as it matures. Eventually, the drupe will become our precious fruit.
It is important to note that the development of olives is a gradual process that can take several months. During this time, the olives go through stages of growth in which their size and internal composition are modified until they are finally ready to be harvested. The complete ripening of the olives is crucial for the quality and flavour of the olive oil produced from them.
At MARE OLEUM, we invite you to witness this unique natural spectacle. Our interpretation centre offers guided tours where you can learn about the history and cultivation process of the olive tree, as well as the importance of extra virgin olive oil. In addition, during the visit, you will have the opportunity to taste some of our exquisite extra virgin olive oils, made with olives from our own trees.
We guarantee an unforgettable experience that will awaken all your senses and teach you to appreciate the treasure that is extra virgin olive oil. We look forward to your visit!
