The origin of the olive tree has been lost in the mists of time, coinciding and being confused with the expansion of the civilizations that have developed on the Mediterranean Basin. The territory of its cultivation is distributed along all of the lands that surround the Mediterranean Sea.

Historical references and archeological remains have been found that place the origin of the olive tree in Asia Minor, localizing it in the strip presently known as the Middle East; the origin and evolution of the peoples who live in these lands is intimately tied to the olive tree and its fruit. The symbiosis between the tree and the men that it feeds is such that it came to be elevated to the status of a sacred tree. From its wood, they would make kings’ scepters, with its leaves and branches they would crown noble men, and its juice; in addition to being used as a food product, was used for the care and beautification of the body as well as to make medicines.

The olive tree was introduced in Catalonia around the year 500 BC, possibly by the Greeks. From that point on, it spread quickly to the farms of the Iberian communities.

According to Greek mythology, the olive tree appeared as a result of a competition between Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom, and Poseidon, the God of the Sea, in which the winner would become the protector of a new city of Attica. The city would be named in honor of the god who could give the citizens the most precious gift. Poseidon broke a stone with his trident and, together with the water that came out of the rock, a horse emerged.
Then, Athena plunged her spear into the rock and the first olive tree appeared at the gates of Acropolis. The citizens of the new city declared Athena to be the winner and themselves Athenians for life. There is still an olive tree today in the place that the story took place.