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", and is renowned for its superior oil which is low in acidity. The latter is generally attributed to the poor quality alkaline soil found on the Maltese Islands. As an indigenous olive cultivar, the Bidni has developed a unique DNA profile, and is believed to be among the most ancient species on the island, triggering local authorities to declare some of these ancient trees as "national monuments", and as having an "Antiquarian Importance", a status which is enjoyed by only a handful of other species.
Etymology
According to the "Maltese-English Dictionary", the word "Bidni" is derived from "badan", which means "corpulent", "robust", "to grow stout". Bidni, is a "large olive tree producing very small olives". Therefore, the tree is called Bidni because it is "corpulent". This contradicts several online sources that suggest that the word Bidni originated from the rural hamlet of Bidnija, or that the word means "hunchback" in the Maltese language.
Characteristics
In a landmark publication entitled, "Cultivation and Diseases of Fruit Trees in the Maltese Islands", John Borg, Professor of Natural History, Superintendent of Agriculture, and founder of the Government's Experimental Farm at Għammieri, described the Bitni as follows: Decades later, the Bitni's disease resistant qualities still baffle scientists. Described by the Olive Oil Times as a "peculiar local variety", reports seem to suggest that abnormally high levels of oleuropein, a natural antibiotic produced by the tree to protect its fruit and leaves, may be behind this remarkable characteristic. The Bitni's oil has been described as "spicy" and "peppery", containing "elevated Polyphenols", a characteristic which differentiates it from other oils. Once fully established, fruit is produced in abundance, up to 60 kilos per tree.
Protection
The antiquity of Malta's ancient Bidni olive trees has been confirmed through carbon dating. The Bidni olive trees, which have been found to date back to the 1st century A.D., have been protected since 1933, and are also listed in UNESCO's Database of National Cultural Heritage Laws. In 2011, after recognising their historical and landscape value, and in recognition of the fact that "only 20 trees remain from 40 at the beginning of the 20th century", local authorities declared the ancient Bidni olive grove at Bidnija as a Tree Protected Area, under the provisions of a regulation made in 2011. These highly protected Bidni olive trees, measuring between five and eight metres in height, still bear fruit. Although their fruit is too small for harvesting, the ancient Bidni trees are often revered by visitors. Other Bidni olive trees in the vicinity can be found in the private grounds of Qannotta Castle in Wardija. Since the Government of Malta has recognised the olive tree as forming an integral part of the traditional landscape, heavy pruning, felling, and uprooting of olive trees, including that of the Bidni variety, is subject to a permit from the relevant authorities. Although the Bidni olive has no PDO status, there are a number of initiatives, which include studies on its genetic composition, to attain this certification. Apart from legally protecting its name, this status of authenticity is typically used by marketing professionals to gain a competitive advantage at both European and international markets.
Revival
In January 2006, the Project for the Revival of the Indigenous Maltese Olive, was launched. Apart from reviving indigenous cultivars, such as the Bidni, one of the aims of this project was to substantially increase production levels in a bid to obtain the much coveted PDO status. As a direct result of PRIMO, some 30,000 Bidni olive trees were grafted and planted, thereby setting the necessary groundwork for the creation of a niche industry. The methodology behind this process consisted of several steps. After olive pips were collected from the ancient Bidni olive grove of Bidnija, these were then sowed at the Government of Malta's Experimental Farm in Għammieri and left to germinate for use as rootstock. Once the rootstocks were viable, cuttings were then taken from the millennia-old Bidni olive trees and carefully grafted to the rootstocks. Efforts to plant more Bidni olive trees are ongoing.
Gastronomy
The Maltese use their olive oil quite generously. In 2012, they ranked 8th in the world in per capita olive oil consumption. With olive oil processing equipment dating back to the Roman Empire, and possibly even before this period, the consumption of oil has since become an integral part of the Maltese diet. For instance, in 1804, French writer :fr:Pierre-Marie-Louis de Boisgelin de Kerdu|Louis de Boisgelin noted that, "a clove of garlic, or an onion, anchovies dipped in oil, and salted fish", was the "usual diet" of the Maltese. Nowadays, the use of oil in Maltese cuisine is still predominant. The popular Maltese snack "ħobż biż-żejt", which literally translates to "bread with oil", is testimony to this. Although the Bidni is mostly known for its superior oil, the small fruit can also be enjoyed as a table olive. One popular method is to crush Bidni olives in garlic-infused extra virgin olive oil, and then eat them with Maltese bread. Another method is to gently fry Bidni olives after preserving them in brine, and then serve them with seasonal herbs such as parsley or mint. The leaves of the Bidni tree have also been used to make tea which is believed to lower high blood pressure. This ancient remedy is "still used in rural communities in Malta".
