EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL

The three images above are ideograms depicting the olive tree (left), its crop (centre) and olive oil (right). These ideograms were found in Linear A and B tablets and are proof that the Minoans used olive oil and olives as part of their diet as far back as 1800 BC.

Click on the tabs below to read about the olive tree in Greek mythology, the origins of the olive tree, the olive tree in Cretan and Greek history, olive oil categories and Cretan olive oil: The best olive oil in the world - Nutritional value, Quality and Consumption.

The olive tree in Greek mythology

According to Greek mythology, the daughter of Zeus, Athena, Goddess of Wisdom who was born on the shores of river Triton in Crete, planted the first olive tree on the Sacred Rock of the Acropolis therefore offering it to humanity as a symbol of peace, wisdom and prosperity. By doing so, she won the contest against God Poseidon and had the most powerful ancient Greek city named "Athena" (Athens) in her honour. At the same time she also became the protector of the city.

CRETAN OLIVES & OLIVE PASTE 

In Crete, the olive tree has found the most ideal conditions for its development. It prefers the mild Mediterranean climate, loves moisture (but can survive in conditions of great dryness) and also loves the mild Mediterranean winter and greedily absorbs the strong Mediterranean light. Even though it grows best in fertile soils, it can also take root and bear fruit in the most barren, dry and rocky soils such as those of Crete.
Over the years the olive plantations of Crete have spread and today cover a large part of the island's total surface area. The island's agricultural land is approximately 3.6 Km2 and of this 65% is covered by olive plantations (23,500 hectares) with olive plantations today include a total of at least 35 million trees.

HONEY & BEE POLLEN 

Since the prehistoric years, Cretans have been familiar with honey-making and have included it in their diet. Cretan honey is a clear, light-coloured honey of exceptionally high quality with the highest viscosity in Greece.
The strong relationship between the Cretans and bees goes back a very long time. In Greek mythology, the bee (“Melissa”) was the daughter of Crete’s first king Melisseas. She nested inside the sacred cave, the birthplace of Zeus and became his nanny. In ancient times, the Cretans believed that their island produced the best honey because it was Melissa herself who taught them the art of beekeeping. She was entrusted by Zeus’s mother with his upbringing and accomplished her task by feeding him the golden treasure of Crete.

HERBS, SPICES & TEAS 

With over 130 species of wild flowers and herbs endemic to Crete, the island is full of unique aromatic plants. Well-known herbs such as dictamus (the king of endemic flora of Crete) and malotira are found in abundance and have been known for their priceless healing and nutritional qualities since antiquity and the Minoan era. For example, in antiquity, dictamus was known for its antiseptic properties and was considered a form of panacea (cure-all natural medicine). Hippocrates, the father of medicine, recommended it to pregnant women for speeding-up delivery and making it as painless as possible.

SWEET & SAVOURY CRETAN RUSKS

Cretan rusks (known as “paximadi”) are unique in the world and are therefore designated as a P.G.I product (Protected Geographical Indication: In 1993 EU legislation came into effect which provides a system for the protection of food names on a geographical or traditional recipe basis (similar to the 'Appellation Controllee' system for wines). For a product to obtain a Protected Geographical Indication status, it must be produced, processed or prepared in that particular geographical area. The product must be of a specific quality, reputation or have other characteristics attributed to that area solely and considerably different to similar products. Holders of a Protected Geographical Indication are obliged to demonstrate long-term commitment to the maintenance of standards and the marketing of the product. Essentially, P.G.I allows the consumer to have total confidence in the quality, conformity and origin of each and every bottle of olive oil.).

WINE 

According to Greek mythology, wine was given to humanity as a gift by Dionysus, the god of pleasure, wine making, life and friendship. Dionysus' favourite companion was Ariadne, the daughter of Minos, king of Crete.
In Crete, wine making goes back at least 4000 years and was an occasion for feasting in ancient Crete with offerings to the Gods. In Vathipetro, in the village of Archanes, in a Minoan villa archaeologists discovered the ruins of a wine installation facility along with storage rooms full of clay jars for wine storage. At 3500 years old, this is the island’s oldest unearthed wine-press.
Wine making continued throughout the years and flourished especially during the Roman Empire. During that time, there were at least fifteen pottery workshops in the island, making clay jars meant for wine transportation. Remnants of these jars have been unearthed in various towns on the Mediterranean shores, proof that Cretans exported their wine, especially a sweet wine called “Protropos” which was exported to Italy.

TSIKOUDIA ( RAKI)

Tsikoudia (also called raki) is a must in Crete and no one visiting the island can avoid it. It is considered the spirit of life and Cretans claim to owe a lot of their open heart character and joy for life to this magic drink. It is a natural, strong, clear distilled spirit containing approximately 37% alcohol per volume and is produced from the must-residue of the wine-press when distilling aromatic grapes harvested in mid-August. It has to be accompanied by some food and can be served with appetizers before the main meal, with the meal or after meals as an aperitif (it is an excellent digestive) in small bottles and poured in small shot glasses and consumed in small sips or in one go. It is a very traditional Cretan drink with almost every house in Crete producing its own with a different potency. There are lots of small tavernas on the island called “rakadika” which serve tsikoudia together with small plates of escorting dishes.