Lot 4 · Sraj Groves
Lot 4
Sraj Groves
Five groves on the open hills west of Kfeir. Hrouf el Ghezlen was planted in 2001 and the Sraj groves in 2017, mostly with Younani olives of Greek origin and with native Baladi at Ra2abeh. The Sraj came into the family in 1968, when Nicolas AbouJamra bought the estate of Atallah AbouJamra.
Pressing method
Traditional press
The olives of this lot are pressed the traditional way. They are ground under heavy stone millstones, and the paste is spread on round fibre mats that are stacked one on top of another on the press. Slow, steady pressure squeezes out the oil together with the olives' own water, and the oil is then separated from the water. It is the older, slower method used in Lebanon's villages for generations, and it gives an oil with a rounder, more rustic character.
The pin marks the general area of Lot 4; it is indicative only.
Sraj el Taweel السراج الكبير (also called Sraj el Kbeer)
The largest grove of the Sraj area: long, even rows of Younani trees, planted in 2017 on open, level ground.
- Area
- 5,870 m²
- Olive trees
- 149
- Variety
- Younani (Greek-origin)
- Planted
- 2017
- Altitude
- ≈ 763 m
- Slope faces
- Flat ground
Sraj el Sgheer السراج الصغير
A small grove sheltered by tall pines, with a wide view east to Mount Hermon. Known in the family as half a day's harvest.
- Area
- 1,399 m²
- Olive trees
- 48
- Variety
- Younani (Greek-origin)
- Planted
- 2017
- Altitude
- ≈ 791 m
- Slope faces
- South-east
Ra2abeh الرقبة
Baladi trees, Lebanon's own variety, on high open ground looking out over the hills of Hasbaya.
- Area
- 5,465 m²
- Olive trees
- 88
- Variety
- Baladi (native Lebanese)
- Planted
- 2017
- Altitude
- ≈ 789 m
- Slope faces
- Flat ground
Hrouf el Ghezlen حروف الغزلان
The name translates as “the edges of the gazelles”. Ordered rows on red earth, the northernmost of the family's groves.
- Area
- 5,366 m²
- Olive trees
- 149
- Variety
- Younani (Greek-origin)
- Planted
- 2001
- Altitude
- ≈ 763 m
- Slope faces
- North-north-west
Birket Mimes دوار البركة
A hillside of young trees above the valley, facing the morning sun. Its first harvest with the lot is expected this season.
- Area
- 2,410 m²
- Olive trees
- 64
- Variety
- Not recorded
- Altitude
- ≈ 771 m
- Slope faces
- East
Areas and tree counts are from the family land register. Altitude and slope are approximate, taken from the plot centre on satellite elevation data. Map pins show each lot's general area only. Grove photographs from recent seasons; family photographs from the AbouJamra family archive. Where a grove has no photograph of its own yet, a photograph from the neighbouring grove is shown and labelled as such.