The Perfect Pair: Unpacking the Blend in Brač Organic EVOO

We at Cypress Hill Grove (CHG) are thrilled to be featuring and sharing organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) sourced directly from the stunning award winning groves of Tina Tomscič on Brač in Croatia. While our own Ošljak trees are still maturing, tasting this world-class Brač oil offers a masterclass in Dalmatian tradition.

Tina Tomcič Olive Grove on Brač, looking east toward Split Croatia

Recently, our team participated in the initial harvest of 2025 on Brač, and the experience revealed the meticulous care behind every bottle. We noticed something crucial in the grove: the intentional planting of two primary cultivars, Oblica and Levantinka, which are crushed together to create the final oil.

This isn't just a happy accident—it’s a carefully cultivated partnership.

1. A Quick Detour: What is a Cultivar?

You might be wondering what a "cultivar" is. It's a key term in olive growing!

The word itself is a portmanteau of CULTIvated VARiety. While all olive trees belong to the same species, a cultivar is a specific, genetically identical line of that species that has been deliberately selected by humans for desirable traits (like the size of the fruit, disease resistance, or the flavour of the oil).

Think of Oblica and Levantinka as two unique, high-quality "brands" of olive tree. To ensure their desired characteristics (like the mild flavour of Oblica) are perfectly maintained over generations, they are cloned, usually by grafting a cutting onto another rootstock, rather than being grown from seed.

2. The Science of the Partnership: Pollination

The olive grower’s most important secret is knowing that certain trees need help to thrive. The vast majority of Croatian olive trees, including the primary Brač variety, Oblica, are considered partially self-fertile. This means they produce a low, inconsistent yield if left to pollinate only themselves.

This is where the second cultivar, the Levantinka (sometimes called Šoltanka), becomes essential:

• The Role of the Pollinator: Levantinka trees are strategically scattered throughout the grove. They are selected because their pollen is highly compatible with the Oblica variety.

• The Result (and why flavor doesn't change): When the Levantinka flowers bloom, the wind carries their pollen to the Oblica trees, successfully cross-pollinating the crop. This vital process ensures a rich, reliable, and high-volume harvest. Crucially, the pollen only affects the genetics of the seed (the pit); the flesh and oil of the olive, which determine the flavor, are made entirely by the mother Oblica tree and remain pure Oblica in taste.

  
  

Up close, the Levantinka trees to have a much denser production of olives clustered on the branches. This is characteristic of the Levantinka variety—it's genetically inclined to bear fruit in concentrated clusters, contributing reliably to the overall yield.

Levantika Cultivar

Read more about cloning and cross pollinating, click here!

3. Co-Milling: Blending for the Perfect Flavor Profile

In the Dalmatian tradition, the fruit from both the dominant cultivar (Oblica) and the pollinator (Levantinka) is typically mixed and crushed together in a process called co-milling. This is done specifically to achieve the signature, balanced flavor that defines Brač EVOO.

The two varieties contribute distinct flavor notes:

Cultivar	Key Characteristics in Oil	Contribution to the Blend
Oblica	Mild, sweet, buttery, and low in bitterness or pungency.	Provides the soft base and smooth texture of the oil.
Levantinka	Pronounced fruitiness, often with slightly higher levels of bitterness and peppery pungency (spiciness).	Adds complexity, aroma, and structure. The polyphenols contributing to the slight pepperiness also help preserve the oil.

The end result is an oil that is both fruity and perfectly balanced, allowing the Brač oil to enhance food without overpowering it. This balance is critical to its Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status.

4. Understanding Yield and Specialty Oils

The goal of every grower is to maximize the amount of high-quality oil extracted from the fruit. The 18% average oil yield that this years harvest delivered is considered excellent. This means 18 kilograms of oil were extracted for every 100 kilograms of olives harvested—a fantastic ratio indicative of healthy trees and a well-timed harvest.

While the blend is traditional, some high-end producers create monocultivar oils—made from only one type of olive. A pure Oblica monocultivar is incredibly mild and soft, almost buttery, but it can lack the complexity and peppery finish that signals high-quality antioxidants.

The traditional blend that is typical of a harvest from this grove is a celebration of what the Brač landscape does best: using the natural partnership of the Levantinka pollinator to ensure the abundant, balanced perfection of the Oblica harvest.

If you are interested in being a part of next year's harvest, please click here for more information. Space is very limited and reservations need to be made well in advance.