Istrska Belica Olives
The main oil olive of Slovenian Istria: intense, bitter and peppery, very high in polyphenols.
The Istrska Belica — “the Istrian white” — is the leading oil olive of Slovenian Istria, the small but serious olive corner at the head of the Adriatic. It gives an intense, green, bitter and peppery oil, exceptionally high in polyphenols and very stable, and it stands behind some of the most awarded extra virgins of the northern Adriatic. Slovenia’s olive output is tiny — and remarkably good.
- Origin
- Slovenian Istria · Slovenia
- Type
- Oil olive
- Colour
- Green to black
- Flavour (oil)
- Intense, bitter, peppery
- Polyphenols
- Very high — very stable
- Reputation
- Award-winning Adriatic oils
- Best for
- Robust, premium finishing oil
Slovenia’s small, mighty olive
Few people think of Slovenia as olive country, but its sliver of Istrian coast presses world-class oil, and the Istrska Belica is its champion — closely related to the Croatian Istrian olives across the (now barely visible) border. The oil is green, aromatic and bracingly bitter and peppery, with one of the highest polyphenol contents of any cultivar, which makes it both healthful and long-keeping.
Slovenian Istrian oil is a true connoisseur’s find — produced in small quantity, at high quality, and priced accordingly. The strong bitterness and pepper of a fresh Istrska Belica are signs of its quality and its keeping power, not a fault.