December in the olive grove: the cold that softens the earth and celebrates the new olive oil.
- Azeite a Norte
- Dec 1
- 4 min read
After November brings the sound of the rods and the scent of new olive oil, December arrives in the olive groves with a different rhythm—there is still work in the fields, but the approaching rest is already in the air.
Olive oil is extracted from olives between October and February, and December marks the end of the harvest season for many olive growers, although some continue harvesting, especially late-ripening varieties.
In Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, December is the month when the harvest slowly bids farewell, while in homes and olive presses the fruit of the past year is celebrated.
The Olive Grove Between Work and Rest
December is the month when the olive grove lives between two seasons: there are still olive trees bearing fruit, olive presses working, and new olive oil to taste, but you can already feel the pace slowing down, the trees preparing for the rest that will come.
Trees laden with deep black olives, a symbol of their health and the promise of excellent olive oil—this is the image still seen in some olive groves in Trás-os-Montes in December, especially in late-ripening varieties or from producers who choose to harvest later.
For those who have already finished the harvest, December is a time to celebrate the work done, to taste the olive oil at the family table, to share stories and give thanks for the harvest. It is the moment to take a deep breath before, in the following months, beginning pruning and preparing for the new cycle.
It is also at this stage that the profound relationship between those who produce and the land is felt most clearly. Although the work is ending, December is the time when many olive growers walk through the olive grove almost ritually.
They observe and recall how the harvest went that year, remembering stories from previous generations—because in the olive grove, December is not just the end of the season: it's a time for emotional inventory.
This type of connection between agricultural work, memory, and community is part of the intangible heritage associated with Mediterranean olive growing, recognized in the Mediterranean Diet and classified as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. (https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/mediterranean-diet-00884)
The Olive Grove in the Cold of Winter
December is the month when the cold settles in the valleys and slopes of Trás-os-Montes. The first frosts bring a different sheen to the olive tree leaves, as if the olive grove were awakening more slowly, with the gentle weight of winter resting on its branches. In the silence of this season, listening to the olive grove is almost like listening to the entire territory: the breathing of the earth, the dry rustling of the leaves, the echo of the harvests that have ended.
December at the Table: New Olive Oil in Celebrations
While work slows down in the fields and the olive tree rests, in homes and on Christmas tables, new olive oil takes center stage.
The tasting of new olive oil is an ancient and highly valued tradition, usually taking place in November or December and accompanied by other typical regional products such as cheese, bread, and wine.
In the Trás-os-Montes region, freshly extracted olive oil gives flavor to traditional Christmas recipes—boiled cod, octopus, roasted vegetables, steaming soups, and regional sweets that warm the body and soul.
This gastronomic ritual is not just culinary—it's culture, it's continuity, it's the olive-growing heritage that spans generations. New olive oil, with its intense and fresh flavor, transforms into gustatory memory, conviviality, and celebration. It is the liquid gold that unites generations around the table, that tells stories of harvests, and that honors the work of the entire year.
For many visitors, this is the moment when they truly understand why olive oil is more than just a product: it's a territorial identity, an essential element of the Mediterranean diet, and a pillar of the traditions and daily life of the northern interior.
December to Feel
Those who visit Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro at this time of year will find a calmer, but no less welcoming, region.
The olive presses still have new olive oil to taste, the villages are preparing for the Christmas festivities, and the paths through the olive groves invite contemplative walks, where the winter chill is compensated by the warmth of the fireplaces and the taste of olive oil on the table.
It's also a perfect month for cultural experiences connected to olive groves, such as visiting traditional mills, listening to stories from local producers, or participating in activities to interpret the territory — discover more at https://www.azeiteanorte.pt/experiencia
December is the month when the olive grove teaches us the value of work done and well-deserved celebration. It's a time to give thanks for the olive trees that bore fruit, for the olive oil that reached the bottles, for the hands that worked, and for the families that come together..
🫒 Follow along with us as we follow the olive tree's life cycle month by month — in January, we'll see how the olive tree prepares for its deep winter rest.
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