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Where are olives from? There are over 800 million olive trees planted worldwide.  There are more olive trees and people in Greece. It is estimated over 170 million trees are planted in Greece, while the population is only about 10.4 million people.  The average life of an olive tree is between 300 and 600 years. One of the oldest olive trees in the world is on the island of Crete in Greece. It is about 4,000 years old and is still producing olives. People who live in southern European countries like Italy, Greece or Portugal consume olives and extra virgin olive oil every day.  Why olives have different colours?  Olives are considered fruits from the olive tree. They can be distinguish by colour, size and shape. The olives get their colour from the moment they are picked from the tree. The olive tree always gives green olives and then they change the colour as the mature, so they become darker and softer. The colours may vary from light purple to dark purple and black. All the green olives that stay on the tree will eventually become black. Most of the olives are picked green as they are less bitter and contain more oil.   Why olives have different sizes?  The size of an olive depend on the variety.   You will see the final shape of the fruit when the ripening period approaches. Some varieties provide fruits that are very large (even 6 t...

Easy and fulfilling pasta made with pasta leftovers, packed with olives and tossed with a simple homemade dressing.

Green pesto is a staple in Italian cuisine. This version is 100% vegan! Made with basil, pine nuts, nutritional yeast and extra virgin olive oil, this delicious and aromatic condiment is great for pasta, salads, roasted potatoes and toasts.

This crunchy and delicious bread is easy to make at home! Enjoy it in the morning with butter, jam and marmalade, or in the evening with fresh avocado and fried mushrooms.

Where is olive oil from? Liquid gold - that's what Homer used to call olive oil in Ancient Greece. Olive oil has always been the most important ingredient of a healthy Mediterranean diet. Olive trees have grown for thousands of years around the Mediterranean Sea in Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal. With hot and dry summers, the local climate of these countries is perfect for these resilient trees.  Today, Greece is the biggest consumer of olive oil per capita (20l annually), following Italy (13l). Spain is the biggest producer of olive oil. However, Greece and Portugal produce olive oil of the best quality - the premium extra virgin olive oil with a rich, fruity aroma and less acidic flavour.  How is olive oil made? Made from the fruits of the olive tree, olive oil is technically a juice. Harvesting takes place once a year, early in autumn, when the olives are fresh and at their best quality with low acidity levels. Then they are the most nutritious and contain the most antioxidants.  The olives are crushed just like any other fruits. Olive oil, just like any juice, is best when it's cold pressed and fresh, and this is what we call extra virgin.  What is extra virgin olive oil? Extra virgin olive oil is purely extracted from cold-pressed olives, and it's not blended with other oils. Non-extra virgin olive oil may include both cold-pressed and processed oils...