Oro del Desierto Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil — 500ml (Cold Extracted, Picual/Hojiblanca/Arbequina)

From Europe's Only Desert — A Pure, Award-Winning Expression

Oro del Desierto grows where nothing else can: in the badlands of Almería, Andalucía — the only desert in mainland Europe, baking under more than 3,000 hours of sunshine per year. It's an unlikely place for olive trees, and that's exactly why the oil tastes so different. The extreme conditions stress the trees into producing an intensely concentrated, complex oil.

This is a coupage of three cultivars — Picual, Hojiblanca, and Arbequina — harvested early in October/November 2023 and pressed immediately at source. Cold extracted. Certified organic by SC CAAE (ES-ECO-001-AN). Imported by Sun Grove Foods.

Key Specs

• Producer: Rafael Alonso Aguilera S.L., Tabernas, Almería, Spain
• Cultivars: Picual, Hojiblanca, Arbequina coupage
• Category: Superior Category Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Process: Cold extracted — mechanical means only
• Harvest: October/November 2023
• Best Before: January 31, 2028
• Volume: 500ml (16.9 fl oz)
• Certifications: USDA Organic, EU Organic (ES-ECO-001-AN)

The Producer

Rafael Alonso Aguilera S.L. farms a small estate in the desert of Almería — one of the most extreme olive-growing environments in the world. The combination of intense sun, minimal rainfall, and sandy soils produces an oil with uncommon depth and character. Oro del Desierto has won multiple awards for its commitment to organic, early-harvest production.

How It Tastes

Aromas

🌿 Fresh Herbs | 🍈 Ripe Stone Fruit | 🌰 Almond

Tasting Notes

🫒 Olive Fruit | 🌶 Gentle Pepper Finish | 🍃 Herbaceous

Medium-to-robust intensity with the structured, slightly spicy character that Picual brings, softened by the fruit-forward Arbequina and the balance of Hojiblanca. Clean and complex, with a satisfying finish. The early harvest shows in its vitality — this oil tastes alive.

How to Use It

• Grilled Meats: The boldness holds up to beef, lamb, anything off the grill.
• Hearty Salads: Winter salads with bitter greens, roasted beets, toasted nuts.
• Hearty Bread Dipping: Good bread, coarse salt, a generous pour.
• Marinades: The organic certification and robust flavor make it ideal for meat marinades.
• Daily Cooking Oil: Replaces refined oils in anything where you'd want actual olive flavor.

On Origin

Almería's desert is a remarkable place to grow olives. The extreme aridity and sun exposure stress the trees into producing highly concentrated fruit — which translates into more flavor, more polyphenols, and a more complex oil than you'd get from a gentler climate. It's not the typical story, and it's not the typical oil.

Producer: Rafael Alonso Aguilera S.L., 04230 Tabernas, Almería, España
Importer: Sun Grove Foods, Inc., Roselle, NJ 07203
Product of Spain