| Bidni | |
|---|---|
 Clusters of Bidni olives ripening on the tree | |
| Olive (Olea europaea) | |
| Color of the ripe fruit | Black |
| Origin | Malta |
| Use | Oil and table |
| Oil content | Low |
The Bidni, which is also referred to as Bitni, is an olive cultivar from the Mediterranean island of Malta. The fruit is small in size, hearty with a "violet colour",[1] and is renowned for its superior oil which is low in acidity.[2] The latter is generally attributed to the poor quality alkaline soil found on the Maltese Islands.[3] As an indigenous olive cultivar, the Bidni has developed a unique DNA profile,[4] and is believed to be among the most ancient species on the island,[5] triggering local authorities to declare some of these ancient trees as "national monuments",[6] and as having an "Antiquarian Importance",[7] a status which is enjoyed by only a handful of other species.
- ^ Blatchly, Richard; Delen, Zeynep; O'Hara, Patricia (2017). The Chemical Story of Olive Oil: From Grove to Table (1st ed.). United Kingdom: Royal Society of Chemistry.
- ^ "Bidni olive". Slow Food. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
- ^ "The Maltese Olive". The Maltese Olive - Recipes from a Mediterranean Island. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires|magazine=(help) - ^ Mazzitelli, O; Calleja, A; Sardella, D; Farrugia, C; Zammit-Mangion, M (2014). "Analysis of the molecular diversity of Olea europaea in the Mediterranean Island of Malta". Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. 62 (7): 1021–1027. doi:10.1007/s10722-014-0205-3. S2CID 15036978.
- ^ Borg, J. (1922). Cultivation and Diseases of Fruit Trees in the Maltese Islands. Malta: Government Printing Office.
- ^ "Iż-Żebbuġ tal-Bidnija (l/o Mosta) – Tree Protected Areas". Times of Malta. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
- ^ "Iż-Żebbuġ tal-Bidnija". Malta Environment & Planning Authority. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.