The Germaine, also Ghjermana (; Ghjermana di Balagna), Ghermana, Germana, and sometimes as Romana, is a
cultivar of
olive
The olive, botanical name ''Olea europaea'', meaning 'European olive' in Latin, is a species of small tree or shrub in the family Oleaceae, found traditionally in the Mediterranean Basin. When in shrub form, it is known as ''Olea europaea'' ...
s grown primarily in
Corsica
Corsica ( , Upper , Southern ; it, Corsica; ; french: Corse ; lij, Còrsega; sc, Còssiga) is an island in the Mediterranean Sea and one of the 18 regions of France. It is the fourth-largest island in the Mediterranean and lies southeast of ...
, but also in parts of northern
Italy. Genetically it is close to the cultivar
Frantoio
Frantoio and Leccino cultivars are the principal raw material for Italian olive oils from Tuscany. Frantoio is fruity, with a stronger aftertaste than Leccino.
About the tree
The Frantoio tree grows well in milder climates, but is not as toler ...
, that is grown in the Italian region of
Tuscany.
The Germaine has a good yield of oil, and the plant is resistant to cold weather.
Synonyms
The name of the olive is spelt in a number of different ways, including Ghjermana (or Ghjermana de Balagne), Ghermana and Germana. In some parts of Corsica and in Perugia, it is also referred to as Romana.
Characteristics
It is a cultivar of middle strength, with a spreading
growth form
Plant life-form schemes constitute a way of classifying plants alternatively to the ordinary species-genus-family scientific classification. In colloquial speech, plants may be classified as trees, shrubs, herbs (forbs and graminoids), etc. The s ...
and elliptic
leaves
A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...
that are short and of medium width. The olives are of medium weight, their shape is
ovoid
An oval () is a closed curve in a plane which resembles the outline of an egg. The term is not very specific, but in some areas (projective geometry, technical drawing, etc.) it is given a more precise definition, which may include either one or ...
and they are symmetrical. The stone has a rounded apex and base, with a smooth surface and the presence of a
mucro
A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...
. When fully mature, the colour of the fruit is black.
Processing and agronomy
The Germaine is a dual use cultivar, that can be used both for extraction of
oil, and as a table olive. Its yield of oil can be very high; more than 30%.
It is considered a cultivar of good and constant production.
[ ] The smell of the oil has been compared to
pumpkin
A pumpkin is a vernacular term for mature winter squash of species and varieties in the genus ''Cucurbita'' that has culinary and cultural significance but no agreed upon botanical or scientific meaning. The term ''pumpkin'' is sometimes use ...
peel, while the taste is described as creamy, yet intense.
The Germaine is valued for its good resistance to cold weather.
References
{{Olives
Olive cultivars