Tan-Nixxiegha Olive Grove

At the limits of Mgarr lies a path that is lined with the most mouth-watering of scents. Take it, and you will soon discover the majestic-yet-subdued beauty of the Tan-Nixxiegha Olive Grove, a haven for indigenous and endemic flora that has found a home amid the rugged landscape.

It is hard to believe that, not very long ago, the patch of land that makes up the Tan-Nixxiegha Olive Grove was derelict and in ruins. The rubble walls had been damaged for years, leaving much of the soil to the mercy of the elements, the flora had been replaced by weeds, and it all just seemed like another stretch of uncultivated land.

What Happened Then?

Thankfully, two amazing farmers called Charlie and Ray bought this piece of agricultural land; and, through their hard work and determination, they turned it into their very own Garden of Eden.  They restored the rubble walls and returned the grove to its terraced past, they planted windbreak trees to provide shelter to the then newly-planted olive trees, and allowed rosemary bushes and endemic plants to grow, thus providing a safe haven to many species of birds and insects.

Since then, the olive trees have grown strong and now yield olives that make some of the tastiest olive oil in the country. Tan-Nixxiegha has also been opened to be public, allowing many to catch their first glance of the Widnet il-Bahar (Malta’s national plant), to smell the scent of wild thyme and rosemary, and to be left breathless by the stunning views of the countryside that surround it.

How is Merill Involved?

Tan-Nixxiegha was one of the first places that became part of the Merill Rural Network and, since 2011, we have brought many local and foreign groups to this ‘beautiful’ and ‘friendly’ grove – as the comments and mentions on TripAdvisor put it.

Over the years, the range of things you can do at Tan-Nixxiegha has doubled, and we now offer:

Tasting Sessions – where you can sample the deliciousness of fresh Maltese produce, including extra virgin olive oil, wine and jams.

A Nature Tour – where you can see and smell the countryside like never before and become familiar with the many endemic types of flora that add to the natural beauty of the grove.

Sales of Local Produce – which is just what it says on the tin! Visit us to buy fresh and delicious produce, including estate-fresh, cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil produced by Charlie and Ray themselves. Limited quantities are available, but they are incredibly high in quality.

written by WriteMeAnything.com 

Would you like to organise a scrumptious tasting session or a nature tour at the Tan-Nixxiegha Olive Grove? Then drop us a line at info@merill.com.mt or call us on +356 9944 3118.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil Experience

Shared tour

Every Tuesday!

Explore the richness of Malta's nature and culture with Us

„Conservation through leisure”

Our motto reflects the mission of Merill very well. We strive to link nature and culture in a unique and exceptional way. Promoting Malta’s Mediterranean traditions as well as reviving the agriculture of Malta and its sister island Gozo, is the core part of our mission. Our activities involve conservation, preservation and education. The clients will experience the very best of nature, history and culture all in an eco-friendly and sustainable way. We pay lots of attention for reducing the carbon footprint and the harmful effects of tourism on the environment. Providing benefits for the local community is also an important concept in our work. Under the brand name Merill Local Products we promote the local, authentic products bought directly from the farmers and craft persons. Each person who participates on our tours or takes part in one of the activities organized by us contributes to the preservation of old agricultural traditions and gains a life time experience. The wide range of experiences we offer makes it possible for us to target groups or individuals with different interests.

Let’s see a bunch of the activities one can enjoy with us!

Are you interested in birdwatching? Join us for a trip to Buskett which is the most important woodland in Malta or visit the Salina area. Spring is the best time to visit when a variety of herons and egrets can be spotted resting in the salt pans, the ditch or on the trees in the park itself, with the most common being Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Night Heron and Little Egret. 

In case if you wish to enjoy the calmness of the beautiful landscape and seascape, our Gozo, Dingli and Mellieha Eco Tours were made for you. The tours were designed to introduce the authentic agricultural lands and to represent the Maltese village life. We carefully choose the itinerary of the trips in order to preserve the natural beauties and habitats.

Should you be interested in the traditional way of land cultivation you may wish to organize an event taking place on a vineyard, olive grove or engage yourself in a strawberry picking session. These activities are perfect for team-building or just for a fun day out.

In order to keep the old traditions alive, such as weaving and sea salt harvesting workshops are organized regularly. All these options provide you an informative, interactive and interesting way of spending time with your family, friends and colleagues. 

For further information please visit our fan page


Betti :) 

For more information about the whole range of experiences we offer, please visit the Merill Eco Tours website. We organise experiences upon request for small and medium sized groups. Feel free to email us on info@merillecotours.com or call us on 21/27411388.