My husband and I have become slightly obsessed with olive oil tortas. Have you tried these yet? We were excited to see them in Saveur's Top 100 List this month; they certainly deserve a spot!
We had seen these tortas in their intriguing wax paper packaging in the grocery store a few times, but we were put off by the price ($6 for 6 tortas). But finally we tried them out, and oh my! They are so delicious! They are crispy and flaky, like a thin, crispy pie crust, and they are salty and sweet, with a burnished glaze of sugar on top. But their real addictive quality comes from the spice: there are little flecks of sweet anise studded into the torta.
These things are like crack, we decided, as we spread them with cheese and honey. Absolutely delicious with morsels of goat cheese and a spicy chutney, or with a rich baba ghanoush.
According to their website, the Ines Rosales tortas are over 24% olive oil! They also have a touch of sugar and spices, and they are made and flattened by hand by local women in Seville, Spain. They have been made this way since 1910, and they have a rustic, delicate look and taste.
• Find them: Sweet 'Tortas de Aceite' Crisps - 2 Packages, $11.95 at La Tienda (Also available in the cheese and specialty food section of some grocery stores. We found them at Giant Eagle in central Ohio.)
• More information: Ines Rosales
And if you'd had these and would like to try to replicate them at home, here's a recipe from Wild Yeast:
• Olive Oil Wafers at Wild Yeast
Have you tried these yet? If so, how do you like to eat them?
Related: Lunchbox Helper: Ak-Mak Whole Wheat Sesame Crackers
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1,25 EUR costs the six pack in Spain
Yeah, I've always been intrigued too but totally put off by the price. Maybe for a treat sometime soon...
Instead, I make olive oil crackers with this recipe I got over at chowhound: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/278744.
I LOVE these! I bought them last winter when my roommate and I threw a Spanish themed dinner party, and have been addicted ever since. After sharing them with many eager nibblers, the verdict is that they are transcendent when paired with Bobby Flay's Mulled Sangria.
I LOVE the sweet Seville orange ones. For anyone in DC reading this, the Giant in Columbia Heights sells them. Pricey, yes, but well worth it. Perfect for that snacky treat needed in the morning with your coffee.
I always see these and pass them up. Now I will be sure to pick them up on my next grocery trip.
They remind me of breakfast in Grenada where I saw a man drown his toast in olive oil and then pour 1/4 inch of sugar over that. I was appalled until I tasted these.
Worth every crumb and morsel. Subtle. Perfect. Treat.
I love the sweet/anise ones and the orange ones are lovely too. I am not a huge fan of anise - but I love Dutch 'candied anise seeds' -could not tell you their name to save my life- as well so I guess I am just picky.
It is weird to try a savory (rosemary) one but damn they are all good. I think they are only 6 per package for brilliant portion control.
Hello everyone!
My name is Nieves Borrego and I work in the export department of Inés Rosales.
We are delighted to read your comments about the “Olive Oil Tortas”. Every day we work to make the best products for our customers, so we are always grateful for your feedback.
We take great care making them one by one, by hand, using only natural ingredients and the best extra virgin olive oil; following the same recipe since 1910.
If you want to buy them but you don´t know where, the easiest thing to do is visit the Website of our exclusive US importer (www.mtvikos.com) and enter your zip code. It will give you a list of retailers in your area.
We hope you enjoy our products and we are at your disposal for any questions you may have.
You can visit our Website "www.inesrosales.com" if you want to contact us or know more about our company, products or history.
Thank you again!
Nieves
A friend introduced these to me last year, and I have been hooked ever since. One of my favorite splurges is to have these with some really good brie and red wine. Yum!
I'd never heard of this, and was lucky enough that the grocery store downstairs had some. Now I have to deal with trying not to eat the whole package before I leave today. Thanks a LOT.
these are very tatsy and the only time I like anise as it is a very subtle flavor. $6 here in minnesota for a 6-pack. beer or torta, torta or beer....either way they are worth it!
I made them! I saw a package just like that in a wine store, and figured I could have a go at making them after seeing the ingredient list. Here's the link</a href> if you'd care to see.
I haven't actually tried the store-bought kind (shameful, I know), but if they're anything like the ones I made, I won't be able to stop buying them. Your description is spot-on; the sugar and the anise are just perfect with the fruity olive oil.
Not sure if anyone is still reading this, but I just wanted to say thanks for this post! I've seen them in the store a few times, and was always intrigued. I got the Seville orange type, and plan on spreading them with labneh (yogurt cheese) and honey. And if you live in New England, I was able to find them at Market Basket for $3.99! (that place is always a steal)
Kept seeing these at the Wegmans I work at in Downingtown, Pa. And finally tried them. They are absolutely delicious. Thin ,flaky, melt in your mouth goodness. I am not a big fan of anise. But in these it was great. Had these paired with a nice imported 18 month aged gouda, and the taste buds were dancing. love how they are handmade and individually wrapped in wax paper.And seeing other prices listed for them, they were a bargain for $3.99 for a pack at Wegmans.
I just opened and bit into a sweet olive oil torta and found a hair in it. Disgusting! Lot #129103