In 1910 a woman named Ines Rosales started to make olive oil tortas (tortas de Aceite) by hand and sold them at the train station in Sevilla. Soon she could not keep up with the demand, so she employed the women of the local village to assist her in producing these delicate and crisp treats. She used local ingredients including extra virgin olive oil. In a short time this Andalucian specialty became known and enjoyed throughout Spain.

Today the tradition continues. Ines Rosales Sweet Olive Oil tortas and almond tortas are still made by hand with the same recipe Ines Rosales created almost 100 years earlier. Women from the local village are still employed to hand-flatten and hand-wrap the tortas that are made in small batches.

These Anise Dessert Crisps may remind you of the pie crust cookies your Mom made when she was trimming her pie before putting it in the oven. Those were generally sprinkled with cinnamon sugar, but the classic Ines Rosales ones have a few anise seeds sprinkled on top of a healthy tart made with olive oil.

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Estas tortas de oliva crujientes se hacían al principio en una panadería de un pueblecillo, que en el siglo XIX era una parada de diligencias cercana a Sevilla. A través de los años, tantos viajeros disfrutaron de esta maravilla y corrieron la voz de que ahora la panadería de Inés Rosales es una institución andaluza.

Hasta hoy se hacen a mano uno a uno en Inés Rosales en el mismo pueblo, donde un grupo de señoras se sienta en una mesa larga cada día, charlando mientras amasan y cortan la masa, la ponen en el horno, y la sacan en el momento justo.

Deliciosamente ligeras, son ideales con el café de la mañana, el té de media tarde, o después de una copiosa comida española. Envuelven seis tortas en un paquete al vacío para usted.