Tanche
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Tanche | |
|---|---|
 Nyons, the place associated with Tanche olives | |
| Olive (Olea europaea) | |
| Color of the ripe fruit | Black |
| Also called | Olive de Nyons, Olive de Carpentras |
| Origin | France |
| Notable regions | Drôme, Vaucluse |
| Hazards | Spilocaea oleaginea, Verticillium dahliae, Bactrocera oleae |
| Use | Oil and table |
| Oil content | High |
| Fertility | Self-sterile |
| Growth form | Spreading |
| Leaf | Elliptic |
| Weight | 5–6 g |
| Shape | Spherical |
| Symmetry | Slightly asymmetrical |
The Tanche is a French olive cultivar.[1] It is grown primarily in the Drôme and Vaucluse regions of southern France. It is often referred to as a perle noire, the "Black Pearl of Provence". The Tanche is said to have been introduced to France by the Greeks of Massilia, around the fourth century BC.
Synonyms
Since the cultivar is largely local in scope, it also has few synonyms. The olives grown in the region around the town of Nyons are normally referred to as Olive de Nyons, or simply Nyons, and this is the name under which the olive is best known to the rest of the world.[2] Another synonym, used in parts of Vaucluse, is Olive de Carpentras.[3]
Characteristics
It is a cultivar of medium vigour, with a spreading growth form, elliptic leaves, an expansive global crown, and large size.[1][4] The olives are of medium-to-high weight (5–6 g), elliptic in shape with a rounded tip and slightly asymmetrical.[5] The stone is ovoid, rounded on both ends, with a rough surface and a mucro.[4]
The fruits can be harvested at smaller size in late November, while for larger olives it is better to wait until December or January.[1] When fully mature, the colour of the fruit is a violet black.[5]
