When you taste an oil from Jaén, you’re almost always tasting Picual. This variety defines the Sierra Mágina and the whole of Andalusia — and it’s the reason AURO tastes so intense and full of character.
What is Picual?
Picual is a native Spanish olive variety, named after the pointed shape of its fruit (Spanish pico = point). It’s hardy, high-yielding and especially rich in oleic acid and polyphenols — which makes it very stable and long-keeping.
The flavour profile
A good Picual, early-harvested, shows a clear, recognisable profile:
- Fruity: fresh grass, green tomato, fig leaf.
- Bitter: a clean, vegetal bitterness.
- Pungent: a noticeable tickle at the back of the throat.
Why does it catch in your throat?
That catch is not a flaw — it’s a mark of quality. It comes from a polyphenol called oleocanthal, found above all in young, green-harvested olives. The fresher and finer the oil, the more pronounced the pungency often is. You don’t just get used to it — you learn to love it.
What is Picual good for?
Picual is versatile: raw over tomatoes, bread, pulses and grilled vegetables, but thanks to its stability also for cooking and frying. Its bold character holds its own against intense ingredients.
Picual by AURO
Our tin is 100% Picual from a single olive grove in the Sierra Mágina, early-harvested and cold-milled.