Galega Vulgar
also called Galega, Galega miúda, Molar, NegruchaPortugal’s dominant traditional variety by tree count — about 60% of the country’s olives — and one of its lowest yielding. Under 18% oil from fruit weighing less than two grams is precisely why it is being replaced in new intensive plantings.
| Also called | Galega, Galega miúda, Molar, Negrucha |
|---|---|
| Main regions | Beira Interior, Ribatejo, Alentejo, Algarve |
| Purpose | Dual-purpose — oil and black table olives |
| Oleic acid | 75.0–77.3% |
| Oil yield | Below 18% of fruit weight |
| Harvest | Medium and strongly staggered ripening, Oct–Nov |
| Watch out for | Very susceptible to anthracnose; unsuited to high density |
In the grove
Aroma and flavour descriptors
No descriptors are published for Galega Vulgar oil. No published panel medians or catalogue descriptor list for monovarietal Galega could be found in agronomic or academic sources. Retailer descriptions were excluded. We do not infer them from the fruit or from related varieties — 40 of the 40 varieties here are in the same position.
This shelf fills when the panel scores an oil made from this variety. 19 of the 40 varieties here are in the same state today.
Galega Vulgar against the other Portugal varieties
| Variety | Origin region | Used for | Polyphenols | Shelf stability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galega Vulgar | Portugal — polyclonal origin | Dual-purpose | ~416 mg/kg | Not published |
| Cobrançosa | Trás-os-Montes and Beira Alta | Dual-purpose | ~803 mg/kg | Not published |
| Verdeal Transmontana | Trás-os-Montes | Oil | 108–202 mg/kg in the published study | 23.2 h and 26.6 h Rancimat in two consecutive seasons |
Sources
- Conservation and use of Galega vulgar, Agronomy 10(10):1467
- Health claim, anthracnose and olive fly, Foods 13(11):1734
- CCDR Centro — Cultura do Olival e Produção de Azeite
Every figure on this page carries a source. Where we could not find one we say so rather than estimating. Corrections are welcome and credited.