Olive oil routes
Olive oil is considered the great secret of the Cretan diet and longevity, which is acknowledged by many modern scientific studies.
The Cretan countryside is full of olive groves, mainly of the Koroneiki and Tsounati varieties, while there are also PDO (protected designation of origin) areas, where some of the best Extra Virgin Olive Oils of Greece are produced
Medical research reveals that olive oil protects the heart, helps the proper functioning of many organs and is beneficial in a long list of diseases. It lowers cholesterol, has antioxidant activity and protects against cancers, helps liver function, is ideal for the diet of people suffering from diabetes and so much more!
The quality of the Cretan olive oil is known all over the world because it is not an industrial product but a natural product that comes from the simple crushing of olives, without extracts and enhancing additives.
The monumental “Olive Tree of Vouves” is located in Vouves of Chania, which has been bearing fruit for more than 3,000 years and from which the crowns that crowned the winners of the Athens Olympic Games and other major sporting events were made.
The Ancient Olive Tree of Kavousi has also been classified as monumental by the Association of Cretan Olive Municipalities, due to the dimensions of its trunk, with a perimeter of over 14 metres, and its location near ancient settlements that bear traces of olive-growing activity. Based on the method of annual rings, it is estimated that the tree was planted between 1350 and 1100 BC. Monumental olive trees, whose life is lost in the course of time, are found in all the Prefectures of Crete.
In Crete, there are many olive oil mills that can be visited and which organise olive oil tastings, visits to olive groves, and visits to the olive press to witness the wine production process.