Maltese Olive Oil Bidni Claims Platinum Award At London’s International Competition
Bidni, an extra virgin olive oil from Malta, has made history by becoming the first Maltese olive oil to clinch the prestigious Platinum Award at the acclaimed London International Olive Oil Competition.
The London International Olive Oil Competition is one of Europe’s largest and most prestigious olive oil contests.
Immanuel Grima, who, along with his father Joe, cultivates the Bidni olive trees, expressed his joy at the achievement.
“It is of great honor to see the fruit of our work participate at this international event and receive such a prestigious award,” he said.
“While we anticipate an increase in production as our trees mature, our focus will remain on quality and the nurturing of this endemic variety.”
The Bidni olive, which is indigenous to Malta, was nearly unknown outside the country until just two decades ago. Its revival is largely thanks to the efforts of Sammy Cremona, and subsequently, the Grima family.
The Grima family currently cultivates around 600 Bidni trees, yielding approximately 500 liters of this exceptional olive oil each year.
The Bidni olive tree is an early harvest variety that has a natural defense against fruit fly infestations.
The olives themselves are small, concave, and have a deep purple color when ripe. They yield an extraordinary oil that is known for its distinct peppery taste, attributed to the fruit’s high polyphenol content.
The olives are cold-pressed in less than 24 hours following harvest, resulting in extra virgin olive oil that has an oleic acid percentage significantly lower than most extra virgin olive oils.
Have you tried Bidni Olive Oil?