Our Organic Coupage oil comes from the olive groves of Tiago Lourenço and Ricardo Araújo located in Idanha-a-Velha, Portugal.
Qualis Oliva’s Natural Coupage is a superior quality extra virgin olive oil obtained directly from olives using mechanical processes only.
Meet Tiago Lourenço and Ricardo Araújo, lifelong friends who left Lisbon for Beira Baixa to focus on organic production and the preservation of the natural and historical heritage associated with the region’s traditional dryland olive groves.
It all started around 2007 with the production of organic strawberries and vegetables. In 2014, Tiago added a traditional 180-hectare dryland olive grove in Idanha-a-Velha to the operation.
This organic extra virgin olive oil is made from a blend of the Galega variety native to Beira Baixa, and the Bical and Cordovil varieties, both from Castelo Branco. The olives are harvested manually from the 180 hectares of traditional dryland olive groves in Beira Baixa which are part of a 1,500-hectare property in Idanha-a-Velha. This type of olive grove comprising centuries-old olive trees does not depend on irrigation or fertilisers. According to Tiago Lourenço, “The grass is preserved to prevent erosion by rainwater, which in turn contributes to groundwater. This allows the trees to form longer roots as they seek out more minerals, which ultimately nourishes the trees.” In addition, he says, “they are grazed sustainably. We produce high-quality olive oil thanks to the varieties we use and our manufacturing process.”
