Khayyan Specialty Foods Wins Gold for Outstanding Picual

Khayyan Specialty Foods, a United States-based producer and importer, has triumphed at the 2023 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition.

This award is more meaningful as it reflects the ability of our farmers to care for our trees and to pick at the right time and extract the liquid gold when ready. It is a team effort and certainly a testament of the commitment of all involved.

Natalia Cabrera, owner

The company earned a Gold Award for the Olivar Santamaria brand, a medium Picual produced in Andalusia, Spain. The brand earned Silver and Gold Awards in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

"It has been a few tough years, and this year did not come without its own challenges," owner Natalia Cabrera said. "This award is more meaningful as it reflects the ability of our farmers to care for our trees and to pick at the right time and extract the liquid gold when ready."

"It is a team effort and certainly a testament to the commitment of all involved," she added.

As with many producers in Spain, Cabrera said the abnormally hot and dry weather they experienced in the 2022/23 crop year made olive oil production especially challenging.

"The biggest challenge was the lack of precipitación and low-yielding fruit," she said. "The rainfed olive trees were almost fruitless, and the fruit that was harvested yielded less oil."

The complete list of winners can be viewed in the Official Guide to the World's Best Olive Oils.