A rare and ancient Sicilian olive cultivar, the Minuta, flourishes in the Nebrodi mountains, particularly in the Fitàlia Valley and some areas near Castell’Umberto and Sinagra. Around 90% of the olive groves, especially higher up in the hills, are planted with Minuta trees. A hardy cultivar, it is more resistant to adverse weather than the Santagatese. The Minuta is highly nutritious, with a high concentration of polyphenols and vitamin E, and its olive oil is very delicate, rich in subtle fruity notes with floral aromas. These are unusual characteristics in Sicilian oils, which are generally characterized by stronger, more piquant flavors.
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Season
Harvested from October to November, the oil and table olives can be found throughout the year.
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Presidium
Producing extra-virgin olive oil from only Minuta olives is expensive: yields are low and harvest costs are high, because the terrain is uneven and picking by hand is still the norm. The centuries-old olive groves bear witness to the importance of the Minuta olive to the local culture and landscape, but these days the olives are often left to rot on the ground because it would cost too much to harvest them. The Presidium unites several growers who make a single-cultivar oil, obtained following a very strict production protocol.
Production area
Municipalities in the Nebrodi Mountains, Messina Province
Presidium supported by
Sinagra Municipality, Sicilian Region’s Agriculture and Forestry Department
