Many Greeks, myself included, have a few trees of their own. Like wine, which absorbs the aromas from other elements it comes in contact with, the olive oil too is influenced by its surroundings. Rather than pick the olives, they're harvested by placing nets under the trees to catch the shriveled fruits … Subscribe here to get new posts and recipes via email. This “liquid gold” was used in cooking, consumed in raw form as salad dressing and also as a base for making perfumes due to its tendency to last longer on the skin. As a result, mechanical harvesting is very difficult. It is during this time that villages and families came together for this important annual event. Greece’s organic olive-grow­ing out­put has grown from 22,000 tons to 132,000 tons in five years, account­ing for an aver­age of 8.7 per­cent of the country’s total olives … There is no particular time to start harvesting the olives, this is a process that usually lasts from two to three months. The harvesting season commences in November and lasts until mid-January. "Pink" olives: Slightly riper, these have a rose or brown color and are harvested in November prior to reaching full maturity. The pressed by stone is considered to create a more complex and healthier end product because this centrifugal action maintains the vitamins and the phyto-antioxidants. Koroneiki olives harvested into sacks in Messinia, Greece. They are later treated with salt, thus giving them their most popular wrinkly form and a purple or black color. The trees bloom in the late spring and produce clusters of small, white flowers. Ladders can be used to climb up and pick the olives by hand. Over the years olive harvest activities have become a popular trend in Greece. Olives in this stage have a high oil content and are easily bruised. At the end of the harvest season a huge feast takes place to celebrate all the hard work and efforts. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. A non-profit organization called “Routes of the Olive Tree” was established in 1998 to promote sustainable development across the olive growing regions. The cultural tradition of olive harvest dates back to the ancient times. Halkidiki Olives are large pale green Greek olives in oval shape and commonly harvested while it is still young. The taste will be even more divine because it will reflect your personal touch and involvement. The olive harvest starts from mid-November and continues through January. This healthy “liquid gold” is a staple in every household and is generously used in preparation of most Greek dishes. From pale … An unctuous, cloying scent permeates the winding back roads of the Greek countryside during the short, slate-skied days of winter. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Théa Premium Cold Pressed Greek Extra Virgin Olive Oil For many generations this family has been harvesting olives in the foothills of the Peloponnese region of southern Greece. Dating back to the ancient times, the olive harvest was considered an important time of year and it was an important family affair. Early harvest olive oil is prized by many who … théa olive oil is sourced from their olive groves in Kalamata, Greece, which is world famous for producing some of the most exclusive extra virgin olive oil in the world. Loading ... Greek Extra Virgin Olive Oil Harvesting in Crete Greece - Duration: 7:54. While they start off a rich dark green when unripe they finally turn dark, bluish-black when mature. Natural fertilizers are also considered to be a key ingredient. Most come from the Greek island of Thassos. Clouds billow overhead, sometimes spraying a light rain for days on end, while black net-like tarpaulins or pearly-grey woven plastic drop cloths stretch under every olive tree, blanketing the damp earth over whole slopes. The table olive is one of the country’s most important agricultural exports. In ancient times, the dry branches from olive trees were a popular source used for fuel. In some places, the olive harvest starts as early as … In Greece, wrinkled black olives are the throubes variety. In fact it was a precious gift from the goddess Athena to the Athenians. Some olives are, however, an exception to this rule because as they ripen they sweeten right on the tree, in most cases this is due to fermentation. Hippocrates used olive oil-based ointments to treat wounds and scars. - Acquista questa foto stock ed esplora foto simili in Adobe Stock Today, many of the modern Mediterranean olive oil producers use electrical machines to shake down the trees, however in Greece the ancient technique of handpicking the olives prevails. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. They ripen to an uneven reddish-brown through November, finally darkening to the “naturally black ripe” stage by early December. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Even today, numerous traditional villages in Crete use olive tree branches as they burn slower and are known as the slow food cooking method — a much healthier option. design by // developed by gt-solutions, 'MAMA' Tv Show - Τι Θα Φάμε Σήμερα Μαμά 2, Lentil Soup with Kalamata Olive Paste, Roasted Red…, My Greek Table is a production of Resolution Pictures, Anamnesia / Benaki Museum Shop / Bougatsadiko Thessaloniki Stou Psyrri / Denezis Wines / Domaine Douloufakis / Domaine Papagiannakos / Eidikon Taverna / Electra Metropolis Hotel / Feedel Urban Gastronomy / Fillo Food & Coffee / Fish Tavern Giorgakis / Fresko Yogurt Bar Acropol / Galaktokomika Karyas Cheese Products / Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports / Kappatos Gallery / Kitsoulas Taverna / Kyriakos Fakaros Jewelry / Metamatic Taf / Mokka Cafe / Nezos Restaurant / O Allos Anthropos Social Kitchen / O Kalos O Mylos / Off White / Olympion Restaurant / Pantopoleio tis Mesogiakis DiatrofisPeinirli Ionias / Psaradiko Tou Tsaliagou / six d.o.g.s / Souvlaki Chronis Xpress / Stani / Taverna To Trigono / The American School of Classical Studies at Athens / Tselepos Winery / Veletakos Fish Taverna. Bear in mind that a large proportion of the crop will go straight to various factories and co-operatives to be pressed for oil. Making of olive oil in Greece is a fascinating process and a perfect interactive holiday choice. This is true for producers who wish to offer the extremely healthy “early harvest” extra virgin olive oil (or “agourelaio,” in Greek). The olive tree has been given the Latin name Olea europaea and is from the botanical family called Oleaceae. Reference of olive oil can be seen in great works such as Pluto by Aristophanes. Hit the tree with a rod to harvest a lot of olives at once. Green olives are olives that are harvested before they are fully ripe. The harvest begins in  October for table olives and continues for about two months, depending on the type of olive and the place it is cultivated. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Typically the term "Kalamata" legally refers to a region of Greece where these olives are grown, however a few countries (those mainly outside the United States and European Union) use … The olives still have a high polyphenol content at this stage, and are starting to develop some ripe-fruity characteristics. © Copyright - Greek Food - Greek Cooking - Greek Recipes by Diane Kochilas The branches are fine and many, and the leathery leaves are spear-shaped and dark green on their tops and silver on their undersides. For many Greeks, the olive harvest is an exciting part of growing up in the country. Afterwards, the olives are placed in large sacks and transported to an olive press where they are laid on a conveyer belt, washed and separated from the leaves. Most olive farmers in these countries harvest the olives … If you want to get a real taste of Greek rural life, how about joining an olive harvest to learn all about the making of olive oil in Greece? In countries like Morocco and Greece, most olive farms are based in fields with slope and various other obstacles. Many of the olive presses use the stone-grinding method until this day, with the only difference being that movement which was once done by humans or animals is now electricity powered. These large, oval olive are some of the most commonly produced table olives produced in Greece. Hi there. Olive-Picking: Not All Fun and Games. Greece produces about 120.000 tons of table olives per year. Despite my New York roots, I have come to love that time of year, not for its arduous work but for the carte blanch that home curing affords me. Green-grey olive trees occupy all of Crete. It’s the smell of years of olive harvesting and processing come to life again as farmers and producers gear up for their busy season. One case in point is the Thrubolea variety in Greece. This special time of year can be experienced by travelers as well. Each year a neighbor collects several kilos for me, sends them to my home in Athens, where I dutifully set about leaching out their bitterness, experimenting with various brine and oil solutions, and tinkering with the herbs that eventually end up imbuing them with flavors both subtle and robust. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Reference of olive oil can be seen in great works such as, Long nests are placed on the ground in order to catch the falling olives and. Image of mill, industrial, extra - 163524104 These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Green olives—essentially less ripe than their darker counterparts—are harvested first; next come all the plump black olives that are among the country’s best-known snacks: tight-skinned Kalamata olives with their pointy, nipple-like tip; juicy Amfissas in an array of browns, blacks and purples. Most olives are made into olive oil, but some olives are preserved to be enjoyed in meals, especially in Mediterranean cuisine. No wonder the Greeks are world leaders in olive oil consumption per capita. An unctuous, cloying scent permeates the winding back roads of the Greek countryside during the short, slate-skied days of winter. Last to be plucked from the tree is the wrinkled black variety, which matures on the branch, can be harvested as late as March, and is cured in coarse salt not brine. Hi there. The Olive Harvest in Greece While the unique qualities of the Greek climate and soil are seminal to the ultimate quality of its olive oil, so too is the manner in which Greek olives are harvested and crushed. This initiative was officially recognized by the UNESCO as International Cultural Route of Intercultural Dialogue & Sustainable development in 2003 and as Cultural Route of the Council of Europe by the Council of Europe in 2005. Families would be involved in the olive harvest and could ask for help from their relatives either by blood or marriage or even their neighbors whom they’ve helped in return. Green olives: Harvested in October at the earliest stages of maturity. Continua la ricerca nella raccolta di iStock di immagini stock royalty-free con foto di Agricoltura pronte per essere scaricate in modo semplice e rapido. Olive harvest and the making of olive oil in Greece. Afterwards, the olives are placed in large sacks and transported to an olive press where they are laid on a conveyer belt, washed and separated from the leaves. Mills start churning up for the months of work ahead, and vast quantities of table olives …. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. They contain the most nutritional and organoleptic elements of all olive oils. Gather up all the loose olives that you knocked off the tree once you're done. Photo about Greece, Peloponnese, Messinia, Kalamata, olive harvest, olives picked from the tree and collected into sacks. Table olive varieties are more difficult to harvest, as workers must take care not to damage the fruit; baskets that hang around the worker's neck are used. Olive trees can survive without constant irrigation, they complete their own growing cycle and are quite resilient to climate change. Over the years olive harvest activities have become a popular trend in Greece. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Photo about Harvested olives collected into sack in olive oil mill in Greece. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Olives harvested by this method are used for oil. Yes - it is approaching olive harvest season across Greece and they are ready to eat when they are harvested. It may be costlier but definitely more environmentally friendly. It’s part of the Greek culture, a family tradition that has been passed on from generation to generation. Harvesting olive trees begins in late August through November depending upon the region, variety and desired ripeness. Oleuropein, which is distinctive to the olive, has to be removed as it has a strong bitter taste: it is not, however, pernicious to health. The gathering of olives from the ground into nets, and sifting out of leaves and sticks, is known as 'masevelling' in Gringlish, after the Greek word 'masevo' to gather. Most olives are ready to harvest when the juice turns cloudy, at the “green ripe” stage in late September. Yes - it is approaching olive harvest season across Greece and they are ready to eat when they are harvested. Harvesting olives can be made by hand or through sophisticated machines. About: Konservolia is another most popular olive devoured in Greece. Agriculturalist keeps some harvested fresh olives over sacks in a field in Crete, Greece - Acquista questa foto stock ed esplora foto simili in Adobe Stock Usually processed through brine curing which has a firmer meat texture that can provide a full soft flavor with a little tartness and a bit peppery in taste. It is mainly the women who take on this gruesome task, and many of them have lost count of the number of their harvests, and are well into their 70s and 80s. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Black olives: Harvested in December at full maturity, they’re smooth with a black skin and deep reddish-black hue. Mills start churning up for the months of work ahead, and vast quantities of table olives are transported, sorted, and finally steeped in the various solutions (from plain water to salt brine to vinegar to olive oil) that will help transform them from bitter inedible fruit to a pungent, delicious, nutritional food of both sustenance and pleasure. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. It is an evergreen that typically grows from 10-40 ft (3-12 m) tall. The uniqueness of Greek olive oil lies in the climate that the olives are cultivated in. This “liquid gold” was used in cooking, consumed in raw form as salad dressing and also as a base for making perfumes due to its tendency to last longer on the skin. 3. Unlike olives that shrivel up after curing, this variety naturally wrinkles as it matures on the tree. Long nests are placed on the ground in order to catch the falling olives and  rakes are used to gently dislodge the olives from the tree. Olives grow erratically (unless the trees are cul… Since olives are picked for both eating and processing into oil, the degree of ripeness matters. Them down to collect errant olives that shrivel up after curing, this is perfect. Copyright © 2019, all Rights Reserved credits sustainable development across the olive were! 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