The earliest records of olive oil goes back to 6000 year B.C.
To the ancient Greeks the olive oil was among the 3 important daily “musts”: Food, Water and Olive oil.
According to the Greek history, the Olive tree came to the Greeks, while Athens was very young- at that time it was called Attika. The ruler, King Cecrops, was looking for even more power. He went to the Gods on Olympos to find only one deity, who should be the God of Attika.
Athene, the Goddess of wisdom and Poseidon, the God of the sea, were both in love with Attika. A challenge was presented. The God who could present the best gift to King Cecrops, would be given the honor of being the deity.
They went to Acropolis and the challenge could begin.
Poseidon smashed his trident to the ground. A source of water was presented. The people of Attika was overjoyed, but were soon disappointed. The water was salt seawater!
Athene now entered and she planted an olive in the ground. The small fruit germinated and took shape of an olive tree. The assembly quickly understood, that the gift of Athene could be used for cooking but also for light and heating and very important, as medicine. Athene was declared winner and in Her honor the city was named – Athen.
The olive tree was then planted all around Acropolis and was a very important source to the Athenians. It was forbidden to cut down the trees, once they were planted. People could be sentenced to death!
In war at that time, it was common to burn down the olive trees of the enemy. A punishment that would take many years to recover from.
To the famous greek doctor and healer, Hippokrates, the olive oil was “The Great Healer”. The oil was main ingredient in 60 medicines. The antioxidant effect of the olive oil is still respected and recognized in modern medicine.
The oil has widely been and is still used in beauty products. Homer describes in Iliaden how the Goddess Hera, seduce the supreme God Zeus, while being covered in shiny heavenly delicious olive oil.
Today, the olive oil and olives production is still the most important agricultural product in Greece. An estimated number of approx. 150 million olive trees groves in Greece.
A early production of approx. 430.000 tons olive oil and 208.000 tons of eatable olives. This makes Greece the third largest producer in EU. Number 1 is Spain (1 million tons) and Italy number 2 (700.000 tons).
When it comes to Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO), Greece is number 1! 82% of the production is EVOO. Italy 43% and Spain 28%.
50% of the Greek production are being exported. Of the total export, Italy is buying 75% of the export. They use the high quality of the Greek oil, to mix in their own production. Afterwords its sold as Italian olive oil. When looking at the declaration it says “recovered by fresh, mature olives from the Mediterranean area”.
In Greece, approx. 65% is grown in Peloponnese and 33% in Crete.