An ancient Adriatic-Ionian olive tradition steadily winning wider notice.
Albania has grown olives since antiquity along its warm Adriatic and Ionian coast, and its leading variety is the hardy, dual-purpose Kalinjot, centred on the groves around Vlorë. It gives a fruity, robust oil with a fresh, slightly bitter character, and a sound table olive.
Albanian olive oil is still little known on export shelves, which can make a named Kalinjot good value — a fruity, robust oil from one of the Mediterranean’s quieter, older olive coasts. As production modernises, Albania’s oils are beginning to earn recognition beyond the Balkans. The Albanian olives we’ve covered so far are below.