[:is]Bathed by the Mediterranean and bordered by the Pyrenees to the north, Catalonia is a wealthy region known for its industrial activity and multicultural character. But above all, this autonomous community is famous for its gastronomy. Some of the most prestigious stars in the culinary world are renowned for their Catalan cuisine. And to create a truly excellent dish, high-quality ingredients are essential.

We analyzed which crops in the region contribute to the fame of Catalonia's rich cuisine. The truth is that agriculture in Catalonia is becoming increasingly professionalized, with 431,000 hectares of agricultural land managed by people whose primary occupation is farming, according to data from the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food obtained through the Single Declaration (DUN).

In EDYPRO We highlight the following crops:

  • Calçots. This is the star product of traditional Catalan cuisine. Its preparation and consumption constitute a true social ritual, giving rise to the 'calçotadas'. It is a variety of spring onion cultivated practically throughout the autonomous community, especially in areas with mild winters that do not suffer severe frosts. The cultivation in the Valls area of Tarragona stands out, boasting Protected Geographical Indication status.
  • centuries-old olive groves. Olive trees have been scattered throughout Catalonia for thousands of years. The characteristics of each terrain give rise to different bodies and aromas in its olives. These olives are used to produce up to five oils with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO): Terra Alta, Baix Ebre-Montsià, Empordà, Siurana, and Les Garrigues.
  • The vineyards of Penedès. According to archaeologist Daniel López, there is evidence that the first vineyard in Catalonia was planted in the Penedès region, dating back to the 7th century BC. This area, located between Tarragona and Barcelona, has a Denomination of Origin (DO) for its wines. Most of the vines are trained on trellises, which facilitates work and improves the health of the grapes. The best-known wines are white, with the Xarel·lo variety as its flagship. For reds, varieties native to the area have been revived, such as Samsó, Ull de Llebre, and Pinot Noir.

  • Rice from the Ebro Delta. There are over 22,000 hectares dedicated to rice cultivation in this area of the province of Tarragona, which has a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). The rice produced in these lands is characterized by its medium-long, round grain, and the varieties included in the PDO are: Bahía, Bomba, Fonsa, Montsianell, Sènia, and Tebre.

  • The pear from Lleida. It is estimated that 501,000 tons of pears produced in Spain come from Lleida, specifically from within a 30-kilometer radius of the city. This area comprises the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) Pera de Lleida, which includes three varieties: Limonera, Blanquilla, and Conferencia. The PDO covers 580 hectares and includes 227 producers.
  • Girona Apple. The Alt Empordà, Baix Empordà, and Gironès regions comprise the production area for the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) of Girona apples. The varieties cultivated in this area are Golden Delicious, Gala, Granny Smith, and Red Delicious. They are characterized by their perfect color and ideal sugar content. 

Were you aware of the agricultural wealth that Catalonia offered?[:en]Washed by the Mediterranean and with the Pyrenees to the north, Catalonia is a rich region that stands out for its industrial activity and its multicultural character. But if this autonomous community is famous for anything, it is its gastronomy. Some of the most prestigious stars of the culinary scene stand out for their Catalan cuisine. And to prepare a good dish, it is essential to have a great raw material.

We analyze which of the region's crops contribute to the fame of Catalonia's rich cuisine. The truth is that this is an activity, agriculture, which in Catalonia tends to be professionalised, with 43% of the agricultural surface area managed by people who have this activity as their primary occupation, according to data from the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food obtained through the DUN (Single Declaration).

At EDYPRO We highlight the following crops:

  • Calçots. This is the star product of popular Catalan cuisine. Its preparation and consumption is an authentic social ritual that gives rise to the 'calçotadas'. It is a variety of spring onion that is grown practically throughout the entire autonomous community, especially in areas with warm winters that do not suffer from severe frosts. It is grown in the area of Valls, in Tarragona, which has a Protected Geographical Indication.
  • Centenary olive groves. Olive trees have been grown throughout Catalonia for thousands of years. The characteristics of each terrain give rise to different bodies and aromas for their olives. Up to five oils with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) are produced from them: Terra Alta, Baix Ebre-Montsià, Empordà, Siurana and Les Garrigues.
  • The vineyards of the Penedès. According to archaeologist Daniel López, there are indications that the first vineyards in Catalonia were planted in the Penedès region, dating back to the 7th century BC. This area, located between Tarragona and Barcelona, has a Denomination of Origin (DO) for its wines. Most of the vineyards are cultivated with trained vines, which facilitates the work and improves the health of the grapes. The best known wines are the whites, with the Xarel-lo variety as the flagship. In reds, varieties typical of the area have been recovered, such as Samsó, Ull de llebre or Pinot noir.
  • Rice from the Ebro Delta. There are more than 22,000 hectares dedicated to rice cultivation in this area of the province of Tarragona, which has a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). The rice produced in this area is characterized by its semi-long, round grain and the varieties covered by the PDO are: Bahía, Bomba, Fonsa, Montsianell, Sènia and Tebre.
  • The Lleida pear. It is calculated that 50% of the pears produced in Spain come from Lleida, specifically from a radius of 30 kilometers around the capital. This area makes up the Pera de Lleida Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), which includes three varieties: Limonera, Blanquilla and Conference. The PDO covers 580 hectares and brings together 227 producers.
  • Apple from Girona. The counties of Alt and Baix Empordà and Gironès make up the production area of the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) of the Girona apple. The varieties grown in this area are Golden, Gala, Granny Smith and Red Delicious and are characterized by a perfect color and the right sugar content.

Did you know the agricultural wealth that Catalonia had to offer?[:]