Cooperativa Arbequina

Arbeca, the birthplace of the world's finest extra virgin olive oil. Few places can claim to have given their name to one of the most highly prized olive varieties in the culinary world.

We are the origin of Arbequina olives, and the Arberquina cooperative is the only olive oil mill in the town. We invite you to taste our traditional and premium oils at our facilities, in the extraordinary setting of our modernist building, over 100 years old, designed by the architect César Martinell.

The Arbequina is a variety of olive tree. It originates from the municipality of Arbeca in the Les Garrigues region, from which it takes its name. This variety is considered one of the best in the world, both for its consistent yield and the quality of its oil. It is primarily cultivated in the Camp de Tarragona, Urgell, and Les Garrigues regions.

According to legend, the Duke of Medinaceli, who lived in the castle-palace of Arbeca, brought it from Palestine in the 17th century. The promise of one billion reales for each olive tree planted (which he ultimately failed to keep) spurred its cultivation throughout the region, although there was already evidence of olive trees of that same variety throughout the area.

It is considered hardy, frost-resistant, and adaptable to different climate and soil conditions. With very low vigor and poor tolerance to calcareous soils, it thrives in poor soils and is cold-hardy. Its relatively small canopy allows for higher planting densities than other, more vigorous varieties. It is recognized as one of the best varieties for oil production.

Hardy, frost-resistant and adaptable to different conditions, the arbequina is one of the best varieties for obtaining oil.

It is a very productive variety with an early start to production. The ripening date is mid-season, beginning in the first half of November. The fruits are small, spherical, symmetrical, and grow in clusters.

They are colored when ripe and lack lenticels on the fruit skin. The apex is rounded, and the peduncular cavity is wide. It is self-fertile. Its fruits do not ripen simultaneously, and it has moderate resistance to detachment.

Visits drenched in oil

We will enjoy an oil tasting of our best extra virgin Arbequina olives, take a walk through our modernist cooperative, enjoy an audiovisual presentation showing the oil process from field to table, and visit the Vilars fortress, where we will then have a very pleasant tour. Finally, we will visit the old mill and the old presses.

Welcome to Arbeca, welcome to Arbequina!