The main olive variety in our groves is Tsounati. It’s a rare olive tree that has its “roots” in Minoan times. Some of the olive trees in the area are monumental.
Mostly, these trees grow wild around the rocks, preserved through the years because the altitude and climate are ideal for them.
Our secondary variety is Koroneiki. It has mainly been cultivated during the last century; surprisingly, it grows among Tsounati trees on our mountain.
These olive trees survived the wars, as the villagers protected them more than their homes. The trees became part of their lives, helping generations of villagers grow, contributing to the healthy lifestyle of Crete that forms the basis of the healthiest version of the Mediterranean diet. Both varieties now give us an olive juice high in polyphenols and full of mountain aromas.