For the Flos Olei 2022 Extra Virgin Olive Oil Guide, this year too Istria is the best olive growing region in the world, dominating the country by far. According to the expert jury, out of 67 types of oils from Croatia included in the list of 500 selected, 66 are produced in Istria, which is 13% of the best in the world.

Flos Olei is the guide to the best extra virgin olive oils in the world, now in its 13th edition, which promotes superior quality oils in Italian and English. The publishers and editors are Marco Oreggia, agronomist, food and wine journalist, expert in olive oils and taster, and journalist and taster Laura Marinelli. Other Italian experts in the sector participate in its creation. Flos Olei is also a manual, useful for understanding olive growing and olive oils in all aspects, aimed at producers, lovers of good taste, experts and restaurateurs. For the seventh consecutive time, Istria has excelled among 55 countries on 5 continents. The oil of Novi Vinodolski's Franko Červar is the best in the category of medium-juiciness single-sorted ones. For the first time, an Istrian EDMU product, that of Mate and Aleksandra Vekić, has obtained 99 points. Of the 79 submitted, 66 were included in the guide. For EDMU-type products included, Istria surpasses Spain, the world's largest olive oil producer. For the third time in a row, two producers achieved 98 points: Ipša from Oprtalj and Olea BB from Labin, 17 producers exceeded 94 points and were included in the extra class. This is the result of a quarter of a century of intelligent policy, investments, studies and preparation for the market.

The award ceremony took place at the Laguna Parentium hotel in Poreč.

During the ceremony, awards were given to producers who entered the guide in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

“In this combination of sea, mountains, sky and land and in a climate that favors their growth, excellent olive oils are being produced,” began the deputy mayor of Poreč for CNI Ugo Musizza, greeting first in Italian and then in Croatian, congratulating the well-deserving, including many compatriots, which does honor to CNI. “The Istrian Region will also encourage the further development of this branch in the future, through the Regional Fund for Agricultural and Agritourism Development, the construction of irrigation systems, as well as the projects and development programs of the Agency for Rural Development of Istria,” promised the President of the Region Boris Miletić.

For some years, after having been the second olive oil region in the world, preceded by Tuscany, Istria has ousted it, leaving Puglia behind.

“In no other competitive segment, including sports, have we achieved such success. We are proud of that, but it seems that we need to do more, especially in our country. We need to promote the domestic market and develop our importance so that this primacy can reach its full value,” added the director of the County Tourist Board Denis Ivošević.

Denis Visentin
Source: The Voice of the People – 27/04/2022