November 12, 2021 - The new Flos Olei 2022 olive oil guide has arrived, and Istrian extra virgin olive oil is the best in the world for the 7th consecutive year!

Last week, the results of the world's only extra virgin olive oil guide, Flos Olei 2022, were announced to the public. And to no one's surprise, Flos Olei again brought great news to Istria and Istrian olive growers, reports HRTurizam.

Namely, 66 olive growers from Istria produced quality extra virgin olive oil that deserves to be included in the new, thirteenth edition of Flos Olei. Thus, in 2022, Istria will once again be adorned with the title of the world's best region for extra virgin olive oils for the seventh year in a row.

This is especially important considering that the publication contains oils from all over the world - from 55 olive-growing countries from 5 continents, and Istrian olive growers are among the 500 best, with a total of 13 percent. In the new edition of the 'extra virgin olive oil bible,' 67 oils from Croatia are included, of which 66 are from Istria and one from Dalmatia.

At the same time, several Istrian olive growers achieved better results than last year, which is proof of significant work on raising the quality and applying the latest scientific and technological achievements in olive growing.

The success of Istrian olive growers is not accidental, but with favorable agro-climatic conditions, the result of numerous agricultural policies of Istria in the past 25 years, such as intensive education of olive growers, distribution of seedlings, but most importantly, loans approved by the County Fund for Agriculture and Agrotourism. Thanks to education, the technology of olive growing and harvest time have entirely changed, and significant investments of Istrian olive growers with the support of the Istrian County have enabled more than 30 technologically advanced oil mills in Istria where hand-picked olives are processed into olive oil. 

Knowledge and funds are invested in preparing oils for the market, which have enabled Istrian extra virgin olive oil to be protected with a mark of origin at the EU level. The mark of authenticity guarantees each consumer that all phases of production, processing, storage, and bottling have taken place in Istria.

"It sounds unreal, and I would say pretentious, but Istria has been declared the best olive growing region in the world for the seventh year in a row," said Denis Ivošević, director of the Istria County Tourist Board, adding that since its first edition in 2010, Istria has and positioned itself as the second-best olive growing region, just behind Tuscany.

However, every year the advantage of Tuscany was smaller. At the end of 2016, Istria took the leading position it has maintained today, but with a far greater difference than Tuscany previously had about Istria.

"Tuscany has come very close to Istria in this issue, and it was uncertain how it will all end this year because last year's campaign in Istria was not memorable, unlike Tuscany, which had an outstanding campaign. However, how it looks this year is sufficiently shown that Istria has 66 olive growers and Tuscany 65, so one more ruled in favor of Istria. Also, excellent results were achieved by the region of Puglia, which in recent years has imposed itself as an olive oil region, and this year it had 51 olive growers included in the guide and came quite close to Tuscany and Istria. An even more important is that up to 1,000 samples from all over the world arrive for evaluation, that a professional panel of tested tasters tests all the received samples in organoleptic terms, that a selection of the 500 best in the world is made and that Istria has 66 among the 500 best, which is impressive," Ivošević added.

To highlight some essential facts from Flos Olei 2022:

- For the seventh year in a row, Istria is the first / best in the world;
- Franko Červar from Novigrad, the best in the category of medium-grade single-variety oil;
- For the first time, an Istrian oil received a grade of 99, Mate oil by Aleksandra Vekić;
- Of the 79 samples sent, 66 olive growers from Istria were included in this year's edition;
- Of the 500 best in the world, 66 are from Istria, which is an incredible 13%;
- Istria itself has more listed oils than the superpower of Spain, which is the world's largest producer and which, due to its size, is divided into 11 large olive-growing regions. Spain has a total of 59 olive growers listed;
- For the third time in a row, as many as two olive growers reached the grade of 98, namely Ipša and Olea BB;
- Seventeen Istrian olive growers were included in the extra class above 94 points.

"Although we have known this for many years, I think it is imperative to be aware of the fact that in no discipline, in any industry, in sport or any other important competition or simply in places where reputation is gained and confirmed, we do not have such a success as Istrian extra virgin olive oil has for seven years in a row," Ivošević points out and adds:

“We are very proud of this fact, but it seems that a lot of work is needed, especially in our country. It takes internal marketing and maturing our importance for this to gain full and true value. We must become aware of it first in Croatia and then for those who promote Croatian gastronomy to point it out proudly. Among other things, Franko Červar won in the category of monosort oil with medium fruitiness. Finally, in this edition, for the first time in history, we received a score of 99. It is Mate Aleksandra Vekić's oil, and I believe that the time has come and that it is seven years confirmation is enough proof to make us aware that we are the best in the world in something," concluded Ivošević.

The complete list of award-winning extra virgin olive oils Flos Olei 2022 can be viewed HERE.

For more on lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.