Aydın Yamalak Sarısı Olive: a table fruit reaching 11 grams

In table olives, size is value. Aydın Yamalak Sarısı fruit weighs 6-11 grams — close to the upper limit among table cultivars grown in Türkiye.

The record

The cultivar originates in the town of Yamalak in Aydın's Kuyucak district, from which it takes its name.

Measured characteristics

One detail stands out: the stone is large too (1-1.5 g, in the “very large stoned” class), yet the flesh ratio still runs 80-90%. The fruit is big enough that even a large stone does not pull the ratio down.

And the decisive property for table use: the stone separates easily from the flesh — at both green and black maturity.

Earliness

The certificate attributes the cultivar's earliness to the area's climate, rainfall, humidity and altitude:

For a green table olive, late September is an early harvest; most cultivars reach it around mid-October. We covered this calendar generally in the life cycle of an olive tree.

Propagation

In Aydın, Yamalak Sarısı trees are propagated by grafting, using wild olive (delice) as the rootstock.

This is a widespread method across the Aegean and Mediterranean: the desired cultivar is grafted onto wild trees that grew naturally, giving it a root system already established and adapted to local conditions. We described the technique in grafting olives.

In short

Aydın Yamalak Sarısı Olive is a green table olive distinguished by size: a 6-11 gram fruit, a stone that separates easily, and a harvest at the end of September. Being a designation of origin, both growing and processing must remain within the province of Aydın.

Source: Turkish Patent and Trademark Office, Geographical Indication Registration Certificate No 732 — Aydın Yamalak Sarısı Zeytini.