A Guide to Greek Olives & Olive Oil

By David Raezer

Greece is the second largest olive oil producing nation in the world (after Spain and before Italy), but the first in consumption, coming in nearly 24 quarts per person a year. So you are going to see a lot of olive oil in Greece! Here are some pointers.

GO EXTRA VIRGIN

Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) is olive oil that has been extracted directly from the olive in a way that preserves its natural taste. This method of extraction is called “cold pressed” or “cold extracted.” It ensures the oil keeps the flavors that can be lost when exposed to high temperatures. EVOO is produced naturally—not refined nor treated with any chemicals—using a machine press within 24 hours of olive harvesting, resulting in specific organoleptic qualities that are reflected in its flavor and aroma. Color is not an indication of quality. Rather, EVOO is characterized mainly by its acidity—0.8% or less, with the best being under 0.3%. 80% of all Greek olive oil is extra virgin.

What Does Cold Pressed Mean?

Cold-pressed olive oil is produced by a special process that fully preserves the delicate flavor. This oil results from the first press, when the olive paste is gently warmed to reach room temperature (27°C / 80°F). Higher heat would have the effect of negatively impacting the quality, flavor, aroma and low acidity of the resulting olive oil. Accordingly, in the production process of non-cold-pressed olive oil, the olive paste is often pressed a second time using hot water and steam to extract every last bit of oil, the heat during the second pressing having less-than-desirable results.

KNOW THE VARIETIES

Generally, the varieties used for making EVOO are different from those used for table olives.

What are the Greek olive oil varieties?

There are 10 main olive oil varieties. The most important, by far, especially in Crete and the Peloponnese, is the Koroneiki. Other important varieties are: Manaki and Athinolia (Peloponnese.), Tsounati (Crete), Valanolia (Lesbos).

Why is the Koroneiki olive variety so prized?

Koroneiki is the most robust of the Greek varieties and the least demanding in terms of temperature, moisture, soil and care, which has made it a standout for high quality, reliable production. While grown mainly in the Peloponnese and Crete, the olive’s attractive qualities have made it the country’s most popular variety, accounting for 50-60% of total planted area.

The olive itself is quite small with a tear-drop shape. It has high levels of polyphenols and delivers EVOOs with a robust fruity nose, with a touch of balancing bitterness and a strong, peppery finish. Typical flavors include grass and artichokes.

The Koroneiki olive

And what about table olives?

Kalamata. The most famous. Shiny, brownish-black, tight-skinned, “almond” shaped. Usually slit on two sides and preserved in vinegar and/or olive oil. It is the pride of the southern Peloponnese (in and around Messinia).
Conservolia. Representing 80% of all Greek table olives, it is the most important commercially and grown pretty much everywhere. Large, oval, rich dark green when unripe and changes as it matures: greenish-yellow, greenish-red, mahogany, and finally, dark, bluish-black. Processed both green and black, it is known by place: Volos, Amphissa, Agrinio, Stylida, Atalanti.
Megaritiki. Grows mainly in Attica (central-eastern Greece, in and around Athens). It is cured as a green olive, w/ lemon & garlic.
Throumba (aka Throumbolia). There are many different wrinkled olives in Greece, sometimes called zaromenes or stafidates or hourmades, but the dark, oily, black throumba olives from the island of Thassos (northeastern Greece) are the most famous, especially creamy.
Halkidikis. Native to the Halkidiki Peninsula (northern Greece, southeast of Thessaloniki), these large, pale green olives are typically harvested while still young and make for good stuffing olives.

PRODUCTION AREAS

In Greece, olive trees are cultivated in 50 out of the 54 municipalities and there are 16 PDO olive oil regions and 11 PGI olive oil regions.

The most significant olive oil producing areas of Greece are:

Crete
The Peloponnese
Lesbos

Regional styles

Every grove produces slightly different olive oils, even if the variety is the same, but there are distinct regional differences.

Peloponnese

Koroneiki olives thrive in the rocky, dry areas of the Peloponnese.

- In Mani (southern Peloponnese), it produces exceptionally aromatic oils, often peppery.
- In Messinia (western Peloponnese), it is pressed with other local varieties, mainly Manaki and Athinolia, resulting in lighter oils with more citrus and nutty tones.
- In Kranidi and Lygourio (eastern Peloponnese), it is usually combined with the Manaki olive, yielding oils with subtle aromas of apples and citrus fruits and only a touch of bitterness and pepper.

Crete

Crete leads the islands in the international market. This island boasts seven PDO regions as well as a PGI. Koroneiki dominates here, as it does on the mainland, but there are some local varieties such as Tsounati in Chania, Throumbalia in Rethymnon and Hondrolia in Heraklion. The flavors of the oils are quite varied.

Lesbos

Oils from Lesbos—based most notably on the Kolovi and Adramitiani olive varieties, both planted after the disastrous frost of 1850—exhibit a delicate sweetness of flavor and a trademark golden-yellow hue.

A FULL RANGE

There are several categories of Extra Virgin Olive Oil:

Extra Virgin PDO
Extra Virgin PGI
Organic Olive Oil
Agourelaio Olive Oil

PDO and PDI designations

PDO (Protected Designation of Origin). PDO products are so called because they have specific regional characteristics and are produced by specific, traditional means, which make the product unique and not replicable elsewhere. All PDO products have a special EU insignia indicating that they are PDO. Each unit/jar/bottle etc. is numbered, to ensure quality control.

PGI (Protected Geographic Indication). A slightly less rigorous designation than PDO, referring to agricultural products tied historically or traditionally to and produced in a specific place. Such products are characterized by specific qualities relating to the place or its traditions.

Unlike wine and cheese however, both PDO and PGI olive oils do not have to be processed or packaged in their specifically designated areas.

What is organic olive oil?

Organic olive oil has been produced from olives that have grown without any chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Organic farming requires the cultivation without the use of synthetic chemicals or GMOs, relying on the rotation of crops for protection and prevention from pests, diseases, weeds and fertilizing the soil with only natural organic matter and minerals.

What is “agourelaio”?

Greek for early harvest olive oil, pressed from unripe green olives harvested in the beginning of the picking season, usually around October. They are characterized by a bright green color and pleasantly bitter aftertaste. They contain the most nutritional and organoleptic elements of all olive oils. They should be consumed while fresh, within 2-3 months. After that, their intense flavor and organoleptic qualities begin to fade.

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