An Island's Golden Heritage
Crete is the heart of olive oil history. Olive cultivation on this island reaches back about 5,000 years, to the Bronze Age. Here olive oil is not merely a food; it is a value at the centre of the economy, religion and daily life.
The Minoan Civilisation and Olive Oil
The Minoan civilisation that flourished in Crete around 2000 BC was one of the first great cultures to produce olive oil systematically. The giant storage jars (pithoi) still visible at the Palace of Knossos show that tonnes of olive oil were stored.
In that era, olive oil was:
- A means of trade and wealth
- Considered sacred in religious rites
- Used for lighting (lamps) and skin care
- Recorded on Linear B tablets
Continuity: An Unbroken Tradition
Crete's uniqueness is that this tradition has continued without interruption. Thousand-year-old olive trees still bear fruit, and oil is produced on the same soil with knowledge passed from generation to generation.
Crete Today
Today Crete leads Europe in per-capita olive oil consumption; islanders consume about 20 litres a year on average. This high consumption is closely linked to the island's famed longevity.
The Heritage's Journey to Europe
Modern producers carry this ancient knowledge to all of Europe by combining it with contemporary cold-extraction technology.
Europe Olive Oil brings Crete's 5,000-year olive culture to your table as 100% natural extra virgin olive oil.