Olive Oil

Olive Oil

Greeks were the first to cultivate the olive tree in about 2500 BC for its precious gifts, the olives and the olive oil.
Remains of olive oil have been found in jugs over 4,000 years old in a tomb on the island of Naxos.
Olive trees were certainly cultivated by the Late Minoan period (1500 BC) in Crete, and perhaps as early as the Early Minoan. During the Minoan Era, olive oil served as the foundation of the Cretan economy. The Minoans also used olive oil in religious ceremonies. The oil became a principal product of the Minoan civilization where it is thought to have represented wealth.

Homer called it "Liquid gold" and Hippocrates the "Great healer". An olive branch was the golden medal awarded at the Ancient Olympic Games.

Greece holds third place in world olive production with more than 132 million trees, which produce approximately 350,000 tons of olive oil annually, of which 82% is extra-virgin. This high percentage of extra virgin olive oil is accomplished because the olives are handpicked and pressed in the first 24 hours after picking.

Greece has by far the largest per capita consumption of olive oil worldwide, over 26 litres per year, while Spain and Italy have around 14 litres per year.