Nocellara del Belice is an olive cultivar from the Valle del Belice area of south-western Sicily. It is a dual-purpose olive, grown both for oil and for the table. It is used to make "Valle del Belìce" extra-virgin olive oil, which is pressed from a minimum of 70% Nocellara del Belice olives.[1][2] As a table olive it may be treated by various methods, one of which is named for the comune of Castelvetrano in the Valle del Belice;[3] these may be marketed as Castelvetrano olives in the United States and elsewhere,[4] and are large, green olives with a mild, buttery flavor.[4][5]
| Nocellara del Belice | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Olive (Olea europaea) | |
| Color of the ripe fruit | green |
| Also called | Oliva Nocellara del Belice Castelvetrano |
| Origin | Italy |
| Notable regions | Sicily |
| Use | Oil and table |
The Nocellara del Belice olive has two DOP protections: both Valle del Belìce DOP olive oil and Nocellara del Belice DOP table olives have protected status in the European Union.[1][3]
Nocellara del Belice olives are grown primarily in Sicily,[6] but also in India, Pakistan and South Africa.[7]
References
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- ^ a b Valle del Belìce DOP (in Italian). Trapani: Camera di Commercio Trapani. Archived 4 March 2016.
- ^ Tom Mueller (5 December 2011), Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil, W. W. Norton, p. 9, ISBN 9780393083484.
- ^ a b Nocellara del Belìce DOP (in Italian). Trapani: Camera di Commercio Trapani. Archived 4 March 2016.
- ^ a b Amanda Gold (1 March 2009), "Olive lovers clamor for the Castelvetrano", San Francisco Chronicle.
- ^ Stan Kailis; David Harris (1 February 2007), Producing Table Olives, Landlinks Press, pp. 61–62, ISBN 9780643099500.
- ^ Josâe Benites; Michele Pisante; Fabio Stagnari (2005), Integrated Soil and Water Management for Orchard Development: Role and Importance : Proceedings of the International Seminar "The Role and Importance of Integrated Soil and Water Management for Orchard Development" Organized by the FAO Land and Water Development Division and the College of Agricultural Sciences, University of Teramo, Italy, 9-10 May 2004, Mosciano S. Angelo, Italy, Food & Agriculture Org., p. 17, ISBN 9789251053478.
- ^ Olive Germplasm, FAO Seed and Plant Genetic Resources Service, 2008.