It is still warm at midday when the shakers start humming in the olive groves of Jaén. It is October, the olives are still green, hard and glossy, and hardly anyone would pick them yet: they give little oil for the same work. But those who pick them now are not after litres; they are after something else. That same night, at the mill, the first oil of the season flows: green, dense, with a scent of freshly cut grass that fills the building. This is the early harvest, and this year it also comes in organic.
Why green olives give a different oil
At the start of the season the olive is at its freshest. It yields less oil, but a more intense one: green fruitiness, notes of tomato leaf, artichoke or green almond, a marked bitterness and that peppery kick in the throat that gives away a freshly made oil. It is the oil for those who love bold flavours. To understand what it is and how it is made, see what early harvest olive oil is.
The first organic oils of the 2026/2027 season
In Jaén, Mergaoliva has opened the season with two organic Picuals. Primer Día carries the start of the harvest in its name and comes in a 700 ml bottle with gift box, a 250 ml tin or a 100 ml bottle to try it. ALBA is their organic early harvest Picual for every day, also available in the clear Dórica bottle, a 1-litre tin and a 3-litre bag-in-box, which protects the oil from air and light while you use it.
Loxa Envero takes its name from the moment the olive starts to change colour, and comes in a 500 ml flacone with gift box that begs to be given.
How to enjoy them
An early harvest oil shines above all raw: a slice of freshly baked bread with a pinch of salt, a ripe tomato, roasted vegetables or a bowl of pulses finished with a generous drizzle. To really get to know it, taste it first in a glass with our tasting guide: you will notice how the pepperiness arrives at the end and lingers.
How to keep it green
Its freshness is its greatest treasure, so protect it from light, heat and air: keep it closed, away from the hob, and if you buy a large format, fill a small cruet for everyday use. All the tips are in how to store olive oil.
