Holm oak

Holm oak and particularly it’s subspecie Quercus ilex subsp. ballota — also referred as Quercus rotundifolia — is the more characteristic tree of the Iberian Peninsula.

Well adapted to the dry Mediterranean summers, this tree forms dense forest stands on the more favourable lands and sparse bushy formations on the dryer terrains. It is also the more common tree found in the Dehesa, the traditional agrosylvopastoral system at the south west of the Iberian Peninsula.

Today, acorns are almost exclusively used as animal fodder, specially for the well-known acorn fed Iberian pigs. However, in the past, acorns served as human staple food for people. Societies where acorns have a central role as human food are called Balanocultures.

Holm oak acorns are, very probably, the tastier of all oak species. Due to the low tannin content they are only mildly bitter. Even though, ‘normal’ acorns still need some kind of processing in order to get rid of the astringency and make them easier to digest.

But some specific Holm oak trees bear sweet acorns, which can be eaten directly and have nothing to envy from other commercially grown nuts.

BalanoTrees has carried out an extensive search for the best sweet acorn oak trees. We have selected the best individuals to reproduce them through grafting.