Gastronomic Route in Cambrils “Mediterranean Olive Trees”

Along this gastronomic route we will discover in depth how important the world of oil is in our city. We will visit the most important places that are related with the production of our star product: we will see the olives on the tree, even if it is a centenary olive tree, the old cooperative where the oil was made in the past, where it is currently produced and sold , how it is produced, how the pressing of new oil is celebrated in Cambrils or the way to have oil from the area throughout the whole year. We also encounter one of the restaurants on the route, El Pòsit, for which oil is much more than a raw ingredient.

 

Points of Interest:

  1. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  2. Agricultural Cooperative/ Agroshop
  3. Oil Mill – oil Press
  4. The Old Agricultural Cooperative building
  5. Centenary Olive Tree
  6. Celebration for the oil of the new press
  7. El Pòsit Restaurant
  8. Adopt an Olive Tree

 

 

1. Extra Virgin Olive Oil 

Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) is the result of the effort and dedication of 410 producers from the Cambrils Agricultural Cooperative who cultivate more than 150,000 olive trees of the Arbequina variety.

The olive trees, made from Arbequina olive, are an autochthonous variety from the Costa Daurada that produce a quality fruit that originates from Cambrils (Tarragona) next to the Mediterranean Sea. The microclimate of the area, the soil, good agronomic practices and the best facilities give us the opportunity to enjoy this olive oil of extraordinary quality, contrasted by the most prestigious expert oleologists and the most renowned international chefs.

This oil has won numerous awards and recognitions not only in our country, but also in the US, Japan and France, where it was awarded the award for Best Oil Mill in Spain.

 

2. Cooperativa Agrícola Cambrils

The Agricultural Cooperative of Cambrils was created in 1902 with a determination to grow and improve that we still have today. The founding aims of this cooperative movement were to bring together the farmers’ individual efforts to concentrate the offer and provide a service to its members. The project has been transformed over time and different sections have been created that today form the Cooperative: the Mill, Fruit and Vegetables, Nuts, the Shops and Agricultural Supplies.
Our olive trees, cultivated in this privileged, fertile land between the sea and the mountains of the Costa Daurada, allow us to make our most precious product: the extra virgin olive oil from Arbequina olives. We also continue to expand our range of products with a large assortment of vinegars, wines, vegetables, fruit and other gastronomic locally-grown products so we can meet the needs of our customers and our farmers.
  • Local’s advice: Don’t leave without trying the exceptional dressings that mix extra virgin olive oil with typically Mediterranean ingredients such as: Boletus edulis, black truffle essence (Tuber melanosporum), cayenne, lemon, black garlic, basil and rose petals.
  • Address: Ctra de Montbrió Km. 2 43850 Cambrils Tarragona
  • GPS: 41.08476, 1.035364

 

3. Oil Mill – Oil Press

There is only a few hours between when the olive grower picks the olives and when they enter the mill to extract the oil. That is why we guarantee the freshness of the olives and that the oil has the flavour, aroma and properties of the freshly harvested olives. When the olives brought to us by the olive farmer arrive at the mill, our Quality Department submits them to the laboratory in a strict selection and control process. Then they are pressed using only mechanical means with a scrupulous control of the temperature. This allows us to obtain a product with all the sensual and nutritional properties.

  • Local’s advice: The oil mill is open practically all day during the collection and production of new oil. Getting to see the intense activity of this oil mill and the production process is highly recommended.
  • Address: Ctra de Montbrió Km. 2 43850 Cambrils Tarragona
  • GPS: 41.08476, 1.035364

 

4. The Old Agricultural Cooperative building

  • Local’s advice: despite being closed to the public (for now), approach the door to admire the modernist architecture of the building. 
  • Address: Calle Jacint Verdaguer, 7
  • GPS: 41.07261, 1.05313

 

5. Centenary Olive Tree

With a height of 8 m., 4 m barrel vault and 12.5 m in diameter, this olive tree was listed as being of local and regional interest in 1997 and dates back between 300 and 400 years. It is surely one of the oldest trees in Cambrils, located in the Roman Villa of La Llosa, which was discovered 26 years ago and from where excavations have continually been carried out. The Roman Villa of La Llosa has been considered an example showing the relationships between Roman agriculture and traditional Cambrils agriculture.

  • Local’s advice: Do not leave the area without using the Imageen APP, to transport you to Cambrils more than 2000 years ago, a cultural journey back in time. We will take advantage of the visit to see the olive tree to also discover the Roman site. If you like history, the museum staff will show you digitally how they lived in the town, which was mainly agricultural, and also the techniques used by archaeologists and the work they do to make archaeological remains understandable. 
  • Address: Carrer Josep Iglesias, s/n
  • GPS: 41.0658, 1.05037

 

6. Celebration for the Oil of the New Press

Every year, between the end of October and the beginning of November, we celebrate the Days of the New Oil in Cambrils, to celebrate the first pressing of our oil, different activities are organised around these days such as: workshops for families on the elaboration , seasoning and preserving olives, guided visits to the olive groves and a well-loved lunch with toast, oil from the first pressing, sausage and fruit for all attendees. Check dates.

  • Local’s Advice: Don’t forget to taste the «Rosta de Cambrils» which is a round slice of toasted bread with oil from the first pressing along with a wine.
  • Address: Ctra de Montbrió Km. 2 43850 Cambrils Tarragona
  • GPS: 41.08476, 1.035364

 

7. El Pòsit Restaurant

El Pòsit is a family business with more than 45 years of experience in catering, specialised in seafood cuisine since 1973, the year in which they began to operate the restaurant in the old building of the ‘Fishing Cooperative’. At that time it was the fishermen’s bar in Cambrils and they began offering a gastronomic offer based on the products that came to the fish market, sardines, squid, cuttlefish, mussels … They go for a simple but good, healthy and quality cuisine: traditional, proximity and free of additives. In addition, their commitment to the environment, saving water and sustainability are fundamental values ​​in El Pòsit and they apply them daily in their restaurants.

  • Local’s Advice: We recommend the romesco sauce made with hazelnuts and almonds from the area, to accompany fish, shellfish or just a piece of bread. 
  • Address: Plaça Mossèn Joan Batalla, 3
  • GPS: 41.065689, 1.057919

 

8. Adopt an Olive Tree

The Mas Montbrió Belvédère  is country house located on the outskirts of Cambrils and organises excursions in November to its plantation to see its olive trees, collect its fruits and go to the mill to press them and thanks to this obtaining its liquid gold. It is an activity that we recommend doing for families who want to show their children the process of making oil and that gives them the opportunity to actively participate in a guided tour and take home their personalised bottle of oil. You might consider adopting one of the plantation’s olive trees, choosing a name for it, and even making a wooden sign with its name on it. The team of people who work in the country house will send you an adoption certificate to your home along with 10 half-litre containers of the olive oil that you have made yourself. On the back of the cans you will see the personalised label with the name of your tree.

  • Local’s advice: We recommend you go to the country house between October and November to participate in the olive picking, with a rake in the hand, and following our tradition.
  • Address: Partida Teixells, 23 43850 Cambrils Tarragona
  • GPS:10276, 1.00445