Istria Croatia Is The Best Olive Oil Tasting Destination

Oct 10, 2023 | FOOD, TRAVEL

Follow @sensationalwell

Olive grove and vineyards rolling over different terranes in Istria Croatia

Istrian extra virgin olive oil is the best in the world according to the olive oil Bible Flos Olei

Italy, Spain, and Greece are the most well known countries for olive oil production and export. Barely anyone knows about Croatian olive oil, but Istria of Croatia has been declared the best extra virgin olive oil region in the world for the eighth year by the leading guide Flos Olei. The olive oil from the Dalmatian region of Croatia is also amazing, but the farms or producers didn’t make it to the top in Flos Olei. 

The red terra rossa soil is a special soil type in Istria Croatia. Some olives trees grow on the terra rossa red soil.
Red terra rossa soil is a type of soil in Istria, great for olive and wine

Why is Istrian olive oil the best in the world?

What makes Istrian olive oil the best is a combination of factors: microclimate, soil, geographic location, harvesting method, proximity to olive mill and timely processing, and some local varietals of olive. The perfect combination makes the olive oil from Istria more aromatic, healthier and fresher. 

Olive grove of Ipsa in Istria Croatia
A young IpÅ¡a’s olive grove in Istria

Without looking at Istria through a scientific lens, Istria is just beautiful and untouched. It’s a peninsula in the Adriatic sea. Olive groves and vineyards are everywhere in mountains, valleys, and plains. You can say Istria is like the best olive growing countryside of Italy combined and condensed. 

Olive groves and vineyards side by side in Tuscany

Istria is the best travel destination in the world for olive oil tasting

The compactness makes Istria the best olive oil tasting destination in the world. Istria is a small peninsula, only 1 hour drive from its north to south, and it has the most Flos Olei Top 150 olive oil farms/producers in the world (scoring 94 or above) – about 20 of them. You can easily go olive oil farm hoping. And there is no charge. 

Olive oil tasting at Ipsa in Istra Croatia
Free olive oil tasting at Ipša in Istria

Olive oil tasting in Istria is a phenomenal multi-sensory experience. Warm it (with one hand holding and another hand covering), smell it, taste it. The aroma and flavor depth and complexity is incredible, especially from some indigenous olive varietals. The tasting notes don’t come all at once. Within a minute of the olive oil first touching your tongue, you’ll go through a roller coaster of many different notes starting, peaking, and declining at different rates

Olive sorting by machine

The best olive oil in Istria? 

They are all amazing. The best of the best Istrian olive oil comes down to your personal preference of the sensory profile and the polyphenol content you seek. 

Buršić's olive oil products and olive oil tasting: buza, leccino, bova, pendolino, Istarska bjelica, de kleva.
BurÅ¡ić’s olive oil of different olive varieties

Buršić Extra Virgin Olive Oil’s Bova extra virgin olive oil blew my mind. Bova is a lesser known Istrian olive varietal and very few olive oil farms produce Bova olive oil. You can taste all grassy, fruity, herbaceous, bitter, and peppery flavors in Bova, all rich and yet not overpowering. And, its polyphenol level is above 1100 mg/kg. Normally with the polyphenol level this high, the taste is very bitter and no longer culinary, but this Bova extra virgin olive oil is still incredibly delicious. For your reference point, olive oil with polyphenols above 250 mg/kg is considered healthy extra virgin olive oil, and the majority on the market are not. A level around 500 mg/kg is very rare. Buršić Extra Virgin Olive Oil’s Bova extra virgin olive oil is an ultra rare gem

Olive oil lab test and certification of Bursic Bova olive oil in Istria Croatia, with high polyphenol
BurÅ¡ić’ Bova olive oil polyphenol lab test certificate

The neighborhood restaurants have extraordinary olive oil too

In Istria, even the olive oil from your next door neighbor’s hobby farm is world class. The unlabeled olive oil on the tables of local restaurants in Istria is better than any expensive olive oil you can buy at grocery stores in United State. This is another reason why Istria is the best olive oil tasting destination in the world. You are olive oil tasting even when you are not officially olive oil tasting. 

Olive oil and olives

Where are the top Flos Olei olive oil farms and shops in Istria?

Istria is very small, only one hour drive from north to south. But since the top olive oil farms or producers in Istria are all exceptional, you can just go olive oil tasting or buy at the ones closest to where you stay. If you have more time, you can go to specific ones across all Istria.

Olive trees grow on higher elevation above the valley in Istria Croatia
Olive trees grow in higher elevations in north Istria

The top Flos Olei (2023) olive oil farms/producers in Istria by area and score

All Google Map links. You can open and bookmark/save in your Google Map account.

In north Istria: 

Mate Orna d.o.o. 99

Ipša 98

Oio de Buscina 97

Buršić Extra Virgin Olive Oil 96

Monte Rosso Estate 96

OLIVERI Extra Virgin Olive Oil  96 

ÄŒervar Extra Virgin Olive Oil 95

Uljara-Olive mill-Oleificio ‘AL TORCIO’  95 

In south Istria:

Chiavalon Extra Virgin Olive Oil  97

Uljara Vodnjan 96

MELOTO EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL SHOP 96

Oleum Maris – Olive Oil 95

Cadenela Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil  94

Grubic Olive Oil 94

In east Istria:

Oleum Viride Belic  98

Negri Olive 96

Nono RemiÄ‘o (OPG Damir VanÄ‘elić) – Oil Mill & Shop 94

Hotel or larger retail 

Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery  94

San Rocco  94 

Zigante tartufi – Truffles shop Grožnjan  94 

Freshly harvested olives

What are the unique Istrian olive varieties?

The most common domestic Croatian variety is oblica. The most widespread indigenous Istrian variety is buža, followed by Istarska bjelica, rosinjola, crnica, drobnica, karbonaca, žižolera, moražola, and bova. Leccino, on the other hand, is an Italian variety commonly grown in Istria. If you visit Istria, it would be fun to also taste the varieties only available in Istria.

Istria is a top foodie destination

Istria has many other incredible highly prized source ingredients to offer and humble cooking, but the olive oil itself is enough to make Istria a top foodie destination. And their liquid gold olive oil is still very reasonably priced. Be warned. Once you have tasted Croatian or Istrian olive oil, you might be disappointed with the olive oil you have access to in your home country.

Olive grove and vineyards rolling over different terranes in Istria Croatia

About Dr. Iris Chen

Adventure with Iris

Fasten your seatbelt. Let’s

  1. Redefine wellness
  2. Reapproach wellness
  3. Love life to the fullest

 

What else do you want to learn about?

Dr. Iris Chen would love your suggestions!

Any questions?

Fire away!


This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Featured Posts

Want sensational insights and tips?

Subscribe to monthly Sensational + Well juicy bites!

Follow @sensationalwell


Share via
Copy link
Powered by Social Snap