Crete and olive oil

“If you deconstruct Greece you will, in the end,
see an olive tree, a grapevine, and a boat remain.
That is, with as much, you reconstruct her.”
Odysseas Elytis, Greek poet and novelist (1911 – 1996)

Rethymno, Crete

3 h

Private Groups

English / French

Food Pairing

80 € per person

Crete, an island under the shade of olive trees

Humans began to use olive oil in the Middle Neolithic Period, as far back as 4,500 BC, according to traces in a bowl found in Gerani Cave in Rethymno, Crete.

Ιn Minoan Crete, olive oil traces found in Rethymno about 6.500 years ago imply that olive oil was already part of the Cretan diet then, and by 2,000 BC the Cretans seem to have begun to exploit the tree systematically, producing olive oil as we know it today.

Today, we can visit monumental olive trees around Crete, aged more than 5.000 years old, which still producing fruits.
We are proud to offer this tasting experience under the shade of these trees in our location, in one of the oldest olive groves in Crete.

Greece is ranged as number 3 producing country in the global olive oil production. In the island of Crete, 80.000 to 120.000 tone of olive oil, are annually producing, which 80% is extra virgin olive oil.

In Crete exist more than 290.000.000 olive trees for a population of 635.000 inhabitants. Corresponding about 450 olive trees for a single Cretan!!
Health Benefits
Olive oil has been the main food in Mediterranean diet that has stood the test of time as the healthiest nutrition factor. During the last fifty years, a lot of scientific evidence approved direct and indirect health benefits of olive oil.
Extra virgin olive oil polyphenols, including the secoiridoids oleocanthal (OLC) and oleacein (OLE), are important because of their beneficial effects on health.
We have the chance to speak about these benefits and taste high phenolic olive oils, produced in Crete.
Crete and Olive Oil Text