It just so happened to be World Olive Tree Day (Nov. 26, 2023) during our time in Ubeda, Jaen, the largest growing olive region in the world.

Ubeda’s Olive and Olive Oil Visitor Center provide a well-rounded education and a great spot to conduct a tasting of dozens of the region’s best extra virgin olive oil producers.

There are even more health properties than I realized, with Ubedans drizzling (or drowning) organic extra virgin olive oil on absolutely everything – from the topping on ice cream to the coating on your gin and tonic glass.

However, on this UNESCO World Day of the Olive Tree day, production in the Jaen region of Andalucia, Spain, is down significantly in 2023 due to soaring temperatures beginning in early May 2023 when the trees were just beginning to bloom.

Olive trees have provided vital farming, cultivation and trade products around the world for centuries, and the olive branch is an enduring international symbol of peace, wisdom and harmony.

Read more in my previous post about our tour of the Nunez de Prado Estate in Baena which was a great lesson in how organic, ecological extra virgin olive oil is prepared and shipped to over 27 countries, including Portland!