A peach like no other

The Ordal peach, known as the Préssec d’Ordal, is produced in the area between the municipalities of Subirats and Avinyonet del Penedès (Alt Penedès), and is one of the region’s highest quality products. The characteristics of the local soil, which is dry and calcareous, gives the fruit its particular qualities that are difficult to find in other peaches grown in other places.

The Préssec d’Ordal is a fruit with an intense taste and aroma and, depending on the variety, the pulp may be more fleshy and juicy in texture. The best known variety is the ’vine peach’, which is an intense yellow, fleshy and sweet, but which also has a touch of acidity that makes it very pleasant on the palate.

The Ordal peach harvest begins in early June and goes on until mid-August. During this time, visitors have the chance to attend one of the most important activities related to this fruit, the Mercat del Préssec, or Peach Market, in Sant Pau d’Ordal. Here the public can buy peaches directly from producers and at the same time learn what makes the Préssec d’Ordal so unique.

Although native to the region of northwest China between the Tarim Basin and the north slopes of the Kunlun Mountains, where it was first domesticated, the peach became widely cultivated in western Asia, particularly Persia (modern-day Iran), from where it was later transplanted to Europe.

Peaches are 89% water, 10% carbohydrates, 1% protein, and have a negligible fat content. A medium raw peach weighing 100g provides 39 calories and contains small amounts of essential nutrients.