The Teguerey arbequina-hojiblanca Majorero olive oil has been awarded the title of best extra virgin olive oil in the Canary Islands at the Agrocanarias 2024 Official EVOO Contest, held by the Canarian Institute of Agri-food Quality (ICCA). This event, endorsed by the Ministry of Agriculture, aims to recognize and promote the archipelago’s top olive oil productions.
This year’s contest saw a significant increase in participation, with 28 entries from 17 mills across six islands, marking a 75% rise from 2023. The entries were varied, including thirteen from Fuerteventura (eight mills), six from Gran Canaria (three mills), four from Tenerife (two mills), three from La Palma (two mills), one from El Hierro (one mill), and one from Lanzarote (one mill).
Other notable winners included Antojo Majorero, Finca Soliviento, Palma Oliva, and Finca El Refugio, with the latter receiving a special award for best image and presentation.
Narvay Quintero, the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food Sovereignty, highlighted the contest’s role as a vital promotional tool and noted the significant growth in olive production from 2012 to 2022, which has tripled from 411 to 1326 tonnes. He commended the sector’s commitment to producing high-quality oils and mentioned the development of an olive oil register.
Luis Hernández, director of the ICCA, announced that this year’s award-winning oils would be featured in a tasting and masterclass at the World Olive Oil Exhibition in Madrid. He commended the Teguerey brand for its dedication and high-quality production standards, including meticulous attention to olive ripeness and cultivation techniques.
The judging was conducted through a blind tasting system in two phases: the olfactory phase assessed the intensity of aromas and fruitiness, while the taste phase evaluated the harmony of flavours and other characteristics like astringency.
Winners of the Agrocanarias 2024 EVOO Contest will have the privilege to use the official contest label in their marketing for one year and will be involved in various ICCA promotional activities. Additionally, a detailed report on the Teguerey arbequina-hojiblanca will be available on the ICCA website and distributed to the media.
