A true taste of Spain, Oro Bailen Picual is a beautiful example of this cultivar. It is very challenging to create a high-quality olive oil at scale. Oro Bailen has been working hard to produce high-quality olive oil for decades and is excelling. Their oils are well crafted, the groves are cared for and the harvest is well managed. This picual is delicious. Vibrant notes of tomato and tomato leaf are predominant, with the secondary aromas of fresh aromatic herbs, and fresh-cut grass adding a lovely round plesentness to the nose. The aroma translates well to the mouth, with a note of fresh juicy tomato, lettuce, bitter greens, and a healthy peppery finish reminiscent of black and green peppercorns. The pungency is warming and lingers.
Being so tomato-forward, this oil, of course, is a perfect match for tomatoes. I love this Oro Bailen Picual smothered on fresh vegetables and salads. Fresh tomato and cucumber salads with thinly sliced red onion, smashed avocado and tomato with sea salt, there are many possibilities! I also love this oil with roast chicken and potatoes. Make a herb emulsion with parsley, rosemary and thyme and rub that under the chicken skin before roasting is delectable. Tomato-based pasta sauces are a favourite with this oil too, freshly grated tomato tossed with pasta and topped with fresh grated Parmesan, you can’t go wrong.
