Anyone who wants to understand the origins of Spanish extra virgin olive oil will quickly discover Jaén. This province in Andalusia produced more olive oil in the 2025/26 harvest year than all of Italy. A striking figure that shows how important olive cultivation is here. For Casa Gomez, the region also has a personal significance: our family roots are here.
The comparison concerns total olive oil production, divided into different quality categories. The figures therefore indicate the scale of production. When choosing a good extra virgin olive oil, we look further.
Jaén and Italy: olive oil production in 2025/26
According to the preliminary AICA/SIMO figures published by ASAJA on October 15, 2026, Jaén produced 390,568 tonnes of olive oil in the 2025/26 harvest year. The Italian research institute ISMEA reported an Italian production of approximately 325,000 tonnes for the same harvest year on September 24, 2026.
| Region | Olive oil production 2025/26 |
|---|---|
| Province of Jaén, Spain | 390,568 tonnes, preliminary |
| Italy | Approximately 325,000 tonnes |
Based on these figures, Jaén produced approximately 20% more olive oil than Italy. This percentage is calculated from the stated quantities; the Italian figure is rounded. The figures for Jaén are preliminary and are based on September 30, 2026.
The comparison concerns production in that harvest year. It does not refer to the amount of Italian olive oil sold worldwide, nor exclusively to extra virgin olive oil. You can also find the publications used by ASAJA and ISMEA in the sources section below this article.
A landscape with approximately 66 million olive trees
Jaén is located in northeastern Andalusia, in southern Spain. Olive groves define the landscape. The IGP Aceite de Jaén describes the province as a sea of olive trees, with approximately 66 million trees.
This concentration helps to understand the scale of olive oil production. A comparison based solely on the total area of a province or country would tell us much less: olive oil is about olive groves and their yield.
We deliberately mention the harvest year with the figures. The ratio between Jaén and Italy can vary from one harvest year to the next. Therefore, you cannot derive a fixed ratio for future harvests from a single season.
Picual: the olive variety strongly associated with Jaén
Anyone who delves into olive oil from Jaén will often come across the name Picual. According to the IGP Aceite de Jaén, this is the dominant olive variety in the province. Other varieties are also grown, including Royal de Cazorla.
Picual is an olive variety; extra virgin is a quality category. These two terms therefore describe different characteristics of an oil. You can also find different flavor profiles within a single olive variety. Therefore, always use the description of the specific olive oil when choosing.
Would you like to discover the differences between Picual, Royal, and other varieties? Read on in our knowledge base on olive varieties for olive oil.
What do the figures say about extra virgin olive oil?
Extra virgin olive oil must meet requirements for both its chemical and sensory characteristics. The International Olive Council distinguishes the quality categories based on these characteristics. Virgin olive oil is oil obtained exclusively from olives by mechanical or other physical processes.
A high production figure does not tell you which bottle to choose on its own. For that, the origin, the information about the oil, and the described flavor profile are much more useful. A robust oil may suit someone who wants to clearly taste the olive oil. For a more subtle dish or a milder taste preference, a more gently described oil may be more pleasant.
At Casa Gomez, we therefore look at origin, freshness, and flavor. The story of a region provides context; the final choice is made for the oil that suits your kitchen.
Our family roots in the Sierra de Segura
For me, Jaén is the region where my father was born and raised, and where my family has been connected to olives and olive oil for generations. Our family roots are in the Sierra de Segura, in this province.
This connection forms an important part of the story behind Casa Gomez. With the webshop, I want to introduce you to Spanish extra virgin olive oil and the people and origins behind the product. You can read more about this background on the page about Casa Gomez and our family roots.
How to choose an olive oil for your kitchen
Would you like to discover Spanish extra virgin olive oil for yourself after reading this story? These four questions will help you choose:
- Where does the oil come from? Look at the stated country, region, and producer.
- What flavor are you looking for? Compare the described fruitiness, bitterness, and spiciness.
- What do you want to use the oil for? Think about everyday cooking, a dressing, or a drizzle over a dish.
- Which packaging suits your consumption? Choose a size that matches how much olive oil you use in your kitchen.
In our olive oil selection guide, you can compare the oils from Casa Gomez by flavor, olive variety, and use. This gives the story of the olive grove a place at your kitchen table.
Sources and accountability
This article was compiled on October 30, 2026. The production comparison concerns the 2025/26 harvest year; the figures for Jaén are preliminary. The difference of approximately 20% is an independent calculation based on the stated source figures. The mention of approximately 66 million trees is a general regional description from the IGP, not a new tree count for 2026.
- ASAJA — preliminary AICA/SIMO figures 2025/26, published on October 15, 2026
- ISMEA — Italian olive oil production 2025/26, published on September 24, 2026
- IGP Aceite de Jaén — olive groves, approximately 66 million trees, and the role of Picual
- International Olive Council — olive oil quality categories
