Olive oil consumption has been declining in recent years

To shed light on the current state of the Mediterranean diet, the Carbonell Home Cooking Barometer was carried out to examine in detail the role that olive oil plays in the daily lives of people in Spain. The survey offers a clear picture of where Spanish kitchens stand today.

According to the Carbonell report, olive oil remains an essential ingredient in people's everyday diet. That said, compared to around six years ago, its presence has declined significantly.

Since 2012, consumption of olive oil in Spain has fallen by 20%.

A healthy diet

The report was based on a survey of 2,000 men and women between the ages of 18 and 65. The results showed that 95% of the Spanish population considers adding olive oil to daily meals to be highly recommended.

Olive oil was chosen as the single most important ingredient in a healthy diet, ranking above foods such as cured ham, vegetables, and wine.

Olive oil remains a cornerstone of the Spanish kitchen, according to 86% of those surveyed.

When it comes to weekly shopping, olive oil is a non-negotiable staple. Nine out of ten people in Spain say it should always have a place in the kitchen.

The ingredients that follow olive oil most closely are onion, garlic, parsley, and wine — though olive oil still leads by a wide margin.

All of this points to the importance of not letting this gastronomic heritage fade away. There is a real need to educate younger generations about the value of olive oil and what it means to traditional Spanish cooking.

What is driving this decline?

One of the key factors behind the drop in olive oil consumption is the demands of modern working life.

People cook when they have the time — but when work schedules leave little room, they tend to reach for quicker options rather than spending hours in the kitchen following a recipe.

Against this backdrop, 8 out of 10 people in Spain agree that the tradition of home cooking in the country may be coming to an end.

That is why, here at Mi Oliva Gourmet, we have launched a campaign to champion traditional recipes.

These are wholesome recipes built around simple ingredients — vegetables, pulses, fish — that are straightforward to prepare, with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, naturally, as an indispensable part of every dish.

You can browse the recipes we have published so far by clicking here to see all the recipes on the blog.