Oil Press of Varas do Fojo (Olive Oil Museum)

Category: Civil Architecture > Olive Press

District: Beja > Moura > Moura > Urbanização Quinta de Santa Justa

Location

The Olive Oil Museum is located in Moura, in the Alentejo region, specifically in the parishes of Moura (Santo Agostinho e São João Baptista) and Santo Amador, in the municipality of Moura, district of Beja.

History

This mill, with over a century of existence, functioned as a community mill, where olive producers could bring their harvest and share a portion of the produced olive oil. Its operation was intense between 1841 and 1941. In 1986, the Lagar de Varas do Fojo was classified as a Property of Public Interest.

Importance of Olive Oil

The Moura region is famous for the quality of its olive oil, with a tradition dating back centuries. Moura olive oil was considered one of the best in Portugal and was even exported to various regions of Europe.

Characteristics of the Mill

The mill preserves the original machinery and offers a detailed view of the traditional olive oil production process, using animal power to grind and press the olives.

Mill Spaces

The mill is divided into three main areas:

, Tulhas: Where the olives were stored before being processed.

, Grinding Room: Where the olives were ground to become a paste.

, Pressing Area: Where the olive paste was pressed to extract the olive oil.

Production Process

The process began with the arrival of the olives at the tulhas. Next, they were taken to the grinding room, where, with the help of a donkey, the olives were ground until they formed a paste. This paste was then pressed in the seiras, and the olive oil began to be extracted. The process also involved scalding, where hot water was added to the mass to release more olive oil.

Olive Oil Decantation

After pressing, the olive oil was mixed with water and needed to be separated. This process took place in the tasks, where the olive oil, being lighter, rose to the surface, while the water remained at the bottom. The olive oil was manually removed and stored.

Museum Objective

The Olive Oil Museum preserves the history and traditions of olive oil production in the region. Visitors can learn about how the mill works, the daily life of the mill worker, and the importance of olive oil in the local economy.

Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagar_de_Varas_de_Fojo

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt