About this oil
Gold of the Lechín Desert is an extra virgin olive oil of the variety Lechín, produced in Almería, from the harvest 2025/2026, crafted by Oro del Desierto.
Sensory profile
| Descriptor | Intensity (1-10) |
|---|---|
| Frutado verde | 6.5 |
| Amargo | 4.5 |
| Picante | 4 |
| Astringencia | 3 |
| Verde Hoja | 5 |
| Almendra Verde | 4.5 |
| Platano Cáscara | 5 |
| Madera verde | 5 |
| Rúcula | 5 |
| Espinacas | 4.5 |
Frutado verde
Amargo
Picante
Astringencia
Verde Hoja
Almendra Verde
Platano Cáscara
Madera verde
Rúcula
Espinacas
Sensory star crafted by Mercedes Uceda. With every order from Molino & Cata you receive a printed copy of this tasting sheet.
© Molino & Cata. Commercial use not authorised.
Tasting notes
On the nose, green connotations of apple, banana peel and green almond. An extra virgin olive oil with spiced aromas. On the palate, very well balanced with hints of rocket and green wood. The finish leaves the mouth pleasantly fresh and clean.
Pairing
Ideal for delicate salads with fresh ingredients, mild white fish, salt-cured anchovies from the Cantabrian coast, fresh or semi-cured cheeses and light desserts, bringing balance and elegance to every bite.
Mercedes' expert opinion
Lechin is the forgotten variety of olive oil, and finding a single-variety organic one is a rarity that deserves attention. This one from Oro del Desierto has spiced notes that give it a character all its own -- the apple, the banana peel, the green almond -- and on the palate it is one of the most balanced I know, with those hints of rocket and green wood that leave the mouth fresh and pleasant. It is the oil I bring out at tastings to prove there is life beyond Picual and Arbequina.
Know every detail
All about Gold of the Lechín Desert
Lechin is the forgotten variety of olive oil. While Picual dominates and Arbequina fills supermarket shelves, Lechin is grown only in Granada, Almeria and Murcia -- less than 3% of Spain's olive-growing area. It is a variety native to the Alpujarra region of Granada, named after the milky appearance of its pulp. Finding a single-variety organic Lechin is a true rarity.
The Alonso family cultivates it on the El Vicario estate in the Tabernas desert. Same organic certification since 1999, same extreme conditions of less than 180 mm of rainfall per year. Lechin has a high oil yield (22-27%) and an oleic acid content of 74-76%. The harvest is early and the olives are milled the same day.
It is probably the only single-variety organic Lechin available on the Spanish market. Oro del Desierto has accumulated over 250 international awards across its full range. The Lechin represents the Alonso family's commitment to minority varieties: an olive that almost nobody bottles on its own and that deserves to exist as a single-variety oil.
Why it's in Molino & Cata
Finding a single-variety organic Lechin is nearly impossible. This is the only one in our catalogue and probably the only one you'll find in any specialist shop in Spain. We selected it because Mercedes considers it the most balanced oil in our entire collection. And because minority varieties deserve a showcase.
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Experiences
Learn to taste this oil
Book a guided tasting with Mercedes Uceda at our oleoteca in Granada and discover the sensory attributes of extra virgin olive oil: fruity, bitter and spicy.
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Production
How an oil like this is made
From olive to liquid gold. Harvesting, milling and extraction.
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Gold of the Lechín Desert
14,50 €EUR
· martes, 14 de abril