Madural Olives
A traditional olive of Trás-os-Montes: dual-purpose, with a round, fruity oil.
The Madural is a traditional olive of Trás-os-Montes, in north-eastern Portugal — the rounded, fruity third partner, with the Cobrançosa and Verdeal Transmontana, in the region’s classic blends. It is dual-purpose: pressed it gives a soft, rounded, fruity oil ; cured it makes a good table olive. A dependable mainstay of the Portuguese north-east.
- Origin
- Trás-os-Montes · Portugal
- Type
- Table & oil
- Colour
- Green to black
- Flavour (oil)
- Rounded, fruity, soft
- Role
- Blend partner to Cobrançosa/Verdeal
- Region
- North-east Portugal
- Best for
- Rounded oil and table olives
The rounded partner
Northern Portugal’s great oils are usually a trio: the robust Verdeal Transmontana and Cobrançosa for backbone and pepper, and the Madural for roundness and fruit. On its own the Madural gives a soft, fruity, well-rounded oil and a sound table olive — the gentle, balancing voice in the Trás-os-Montes blend.
A named Trás-os-Montes DOP oil you enjoy is very often this classic three-variety blend, the Madural smoothing the robust character of its partners. It is a good reminder that Portugal’s serious oils are built, like fine wines, from blends of complementary varieties.