When the Croats arrived to the island Bra?, they found a well-rooted olive cultivation and olive oil production. However, they were more bound to the grapevine, goats and sheep, because they didn’t know olive in their country of origin. As the laws of the Republic of Venice regulated the planting of olive trees (they even regulated penalties for those who damage the olive tree, and a condition for marrying a lad was to plant 100 olive trees), between 16th and 19th century Bra? became an olive superpower. This led to a number of around three million (which was the count of olive trees on Bra? in the mid 19th century), so olive nowadays represents an indispensable symbol of the island.

Olive groves on the island Bra? are still cultivated in a traditional way, which is passed down from generation to generation. The most common cultivars are the old varieties, which are used to produce olive oil, and the cultivars used as table olives can be found in a very small number. Traditional olive trees can be identified by a high treetop with poor foliage. On island Bra?, olives are harvested between mid-October and mid-December, when all inhabitants go to harvest. The fruit is processed the same day, or a day/two after the harvest.

Olive oil made in Bra? is not just a food and spice in the kitchen: it is a medicament and also a cosmetic preparation. It is distinctive because of its specific, fruity aroma of moderate bitterness, pleasant fragrance and healthy green fruits, and because of its properties, it is valued as extra quality or virgin olive oil.

Unlike wine, which improves with age, olive oil deteriorates and loses its quality by ageing, so this oil is best to use up to one year after production.