In spite of it´s very easy to buy anything in many ways, to do it in the place where it´s produced is always engaging. And more if we speak about healthy food. If besides you find a really charming place, a curious exhibition to visit, the chance of a guided tour with different language options, tasting an extra virgin olive oil, to purchase (or not) ... you have within reach an authentic experience. And that is the question, by far in these places is worth to go for the visit, rather than just only for shopping.
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| Old machinery |
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| The entrance of the shop is in a cosy gorgeous porch. |
"El Tendre" olive oil mill is not only a factory but also a delightful place, located in the countryside and surrounded by palm trees and olive trees. It´s situated in the outskirts of Elche, and it´s running by the same family since 1839, nowadays with the fifth and sixth generations. It´s remarkable because it´s really hard to find small family companies working steadily for so much time. This circumstance is highly valued for the bulk of consumers, because we use to think that this continuity guarantees the transmission of the gathered knowledge over the years.
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| Receiving olives. |
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| Storing in cellar, under controlled conditions of light and temperature. |
As other olive oil mills here, they have two different activities. On the one hand working for others: you can bring your olives, pay a fee per kilogram, and get the amounts of liters of olive oil according with the yield of an analyzed sample. On the other hand, they also produce for themselves to sell with their own brand and even export.
In the shop there are olive oils of different types in a wide variety of container sizes. There are for instance extra virgin olive oil cans, very handy for air travel. There are also available beauty products manufactured with El Tendre olive oil, and some local foodstuffs. The staff is friendly and helpful.
Above the shop there is an interesting permanent exhibition of mill instruments that were used in the past, and belongings of the family kept up over time.
If you would like to visit this enchanting corner, either a guided tour or overview+shop+museum by yourself, it´s possible throughout the year (except few bank holidays). Bear in mind if you prefer tranquility or bustle, because roughly to mid October to March is the olive harvest time here, and therefore the ambience change from the idyllic calm to the mill activity (people unloading olives, equipments working, and people picking up their olive oil from the store)
They carry out different types of guided tours, depending on if are included tasting, or an advanced sampling practice. Prices are really affordable, to book or get current information about cost and conditions, contact directly to the mobile phone or email showed in their website
https://www.tendre.es/?lang=EN
https://www.tendre.es/?lang=EN
Lastly, I have showed this olive oil mill to foreign friends of different countries, and it has always been exciting for them. Having my say, give it a go could be a good idea if you aren't far away.
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| Behind the scenes: Paquita, El Tendre fourth generation, working in 1990. |
