Greek Foods

Cretan Liquid Gold Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, harvested in early November 2024, exemplifies superior quality with its cold-pressed extraction and exceptionally low acidity of 0.15%. This award-winning oil is rich in polyphenols, offering powerful antioxidant properties and a complex, vibrant flavor profile favored by professional chefs. Available in 250ml and 500ml bottles, it’s an expert choice for those seeking authentic, organic olive oil from Crete that enhances culinary creations with both health benefits and refined taste.

Also available in 5 Litre can

The koroneiki olives are hand picked just as the olives are turning from green to black, and pressed the same day. The resulting oil is:

• A deep golden colour, beautifully aromatic with fruity floral notes, creamy full texture, beautifully balanced  bitterness and pepper. 
• The acidity is extremely low, (0.15%), demonstrating the quality of the olive oil
• This oil is high in polyphenols (524 mg/kg as tyrosol), which are natural anti-oxidants 
• A very versatile oil which can be used on salads, as a dressing, for drizzling, for dipping and for all kinds of savoury cooking. Contrary to many myths, good olive oil rich in antioxidants is perfect for frying in.
• Certified organic by the UK Soil Association

Our Cretan Liquid Gold Organic won  the Silver medal in the London International Olive Oil Competition, and was listed as Chef's favourite oil in The Times Newspaper (Food and Drink weekend section 6 Jan 2024, and was a top 10 finalist across all ambient foods in the organic foods awards.. Cretan Liquid Gold Organic EVOO has been Nigella Lawson's luxury favourite olive oil since 2013! Twitter @Nigella_Lawson . Indeed, Nigella has rated it as one of her 5 kitchen essentials! It is also a favourite of masterchef winners Thomasina Miers, Irini Tzortzoglou . 

If buying one of the large 5 Litre tins, why not pair it with one of our gorgeous ceramic hand made olive oil decanters - each holds 500ml and has an ergonomic shape with grip surface.

Find out more about choosing an olive oil  , polyphenols in olive oil and Early Harvest Olive Oils - in our blog

 

Our very early harvest October 2024, has produced a beautiful oil, with a very low acidity and very high polyphenol levels.  

• Hygeia 756 - our October 2024 harvest oil is a very limited edition, hot off the (olive) press. This very early harvest oil is made from hand picked green olives pressed within 4 hours. The result is an extremely high quality oil (acidity only 0.17%) with very high polyphenol levels -(as tyrosol ) of 756mg/kg. It is unfiltered, very bitter - reflecting the polyphenols.
• This oil fulfils the EU criteria for a healthy olive oil. it is ideal for heart, arteries, arthritis, inflammatory disorders and degenerative diseases.  

PLEASE NOTE - HYGEIA  OIL HAS A BITTER AND PEPPERY TASTE - THIS IS EXPECTED FOR GOOD QUALITY OLIVE OIL AND INDICATES HIGH POLYPHENOL LEVELS. HOWEVER, NOT ALL PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO DETECT BITTERNESS AND PEPPERINESS TO THE SAME EXTENT -  SOME PEOPLE ARE MUCH MORE SENSITIVE TO THESE ORGANOLEPTIC PROPERTIES.

Review of Health effects of polyphenols from olive oil and other foods

 POLYPHENOLS ARE AS EFFECTIVE AS NON STEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF MODERATE JOINT PAIN.

ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION DISCUSSES OLIVE OIL POLYPHENOLS

To find out more about polyphenols in olive oil read  here 

Organic Green Athinolia olives in an Extra Virgin Olive Oil, lemon and thyme dressing. Enjoy the rich, authentic flavors of Greece with these handpicked, organic olives. Perfect for adding a touch of Mediterranean flavor to any dish.

290g jar

 

Basil (Ocimum basilicum) - so called from Basilis - 'King' in Greek - does indeed have a very royal aroma and is a herb fit for Kings.

Cretan Basil is potent and delicious. Basil can be used in all kinds of savoury dishes and is of course a great herb for pesto. We use it fresh or dried to make pesto (see our reel 'Hey Pesto!' on Instagram).

Basil also has health benefits; it contains eugenol which blocks calcium channels and magnesium; it helps to  lower  blood pressure, prevent heart disease reduce levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. 

All our herbs are air dried in the shade to preserve their flavour. Check out our other Cretan herbs which include bay leaves, dittany,  mint, oregano, rosemary, sage, thyme and lavender. Soil Association licence number 30695.

Daphne Apollonius, otherwise known as Bay Leaf, in ancient Greece was dedicated to the God Apollo. It has connotations of glory and supremacy.  Widely used in cooking, wonderfully particularly stews, sauces, lentils and sea food. It also makes a delicious infused oil with extra virgin olive oil.

 

 

A fine Greek extra virgin olive oil made from a blend of two olive varieties - koroneiki (strong, peppery and beautifully balanced) with tsounati - an ancient Venetian olive with a sweeter, creamy and smooth character.

• for dipping and salads, sauces, stews and desserts (eg ice cream and baklava!).  
• beautiful black amphora bottle with a handle 
• Silver award for quality in the prestigious London International Olive Oil competition 2023
• House Gold has won a Great Taste Award; is a favourite of  Nigella Lawson's (and used in her 'The Taste' programme) and masterchef winner, Irini Tzortzoglou, for use in her Christmas cookies recipe, - Melomakarona
• video of melomakarona using Cretan House Gold in Irini's recipe 

JUST ARRIVED! THE NEW NOVEMBER 2024 HARVEST order now!

 

The November 2024 harvest from our estate in Crete has just been completed, and the quality is even better than last year. With an acidity of 0.15% with a high polyphenol value of over 500mg/Kg,l (as tyrosol) this oil is delicious and healthy. Also available in 250ml, 500ml. 

The koroneiki olives are hand picked just as the olives are turning from green to black, and pressed the same day. The resulting oil is:

• A deep golden colour, beautifully aromatic with fruity floral notes, creamy full texture, beautifully balanced  bitterness and pepper. 
• The acidity is extremely low, (0.15%), demonstrating the quality of the olive oil
• This oil is high in polyphenols (524 mg/kg as tyrosol), which are natural anti-oxidants 
• A very versatile oil which can be used on salads, as a dressing, for drizzling, for dipping and for all kinds of savoury cooking. Contrary to many myths, good olive oil rich in antioxidants is perfect for frying in.
• Certified organic by the UK Soil Association

Our Cretan Liquid Gold Organic won  the Silver medal in the London International Olive Oil Competition, and was listed as Chef's favourite oil in The Times Newspaper (Food and Drink weekend section 6 Jan 2024, and was a top 10 finalist across all ambient foods in the organic foods awards.. Cretan Liquid Gold Organic EVOO has been Nigella Lawson's luxury favourite olive oil since 2013! Twitter @Nigella_Lawson . Indeed, Nigella has rated it as one of her 5 kitchen essentials! It is also a favourite of masterchef winners Thomasina Miers, Irini Tzortzoglou . 

If buying one of the large 5 Litre tins, why not pair it with one of our gorgeous ceramic hand made olive oil decanters - each holds 500ml and has an ergonomic shape with grip surface.

Find out more about choosing an olive oil  , polyphenols in olive oil and Early Harvest Olive Oils - in our blog

A selection of traditional herb and spice mixes for Greek sweet and savoury dishes

Traditional Greek mountain teas with island variations.  All the traditional herbs used in the blends are hand picked and air dried in the shade. Delicious at any time of day with a spoonful of Greek honey. We have also made some of our own variations !

The herbs used are renowned for their health benefits. To read more about these, please see our blogs on the subjects. 

Traditional Organic Carob Syrup from Crete, Greece, made with 100% pure carob - natural ingredients. No added sugar or flavourings.

Carob is a very healthy natural product. The Carob Tree pods (not the carat seeds) are boiled for days to produce a thick nourishing syrup. The syrup is used as an alternative to chocolate sauce on desserts and in baking or cooking. It is also drunk diluted with warm milk as a nourishing drink when run down, or for colds. Carob is very high in calcium (higher than milk), iron, fibre, and various other vitamins and minerals. It is good for bowel activity, and the 'good' bowel bacteria love it! Carob is good for bones, teeth and nails.

Organic Green Koutsourelia olives in an Extra Virgin Olive Oil, lemon and thyme dressing. Enjoy the rich, authentic flavors of Greece with these handpicked, organic olives. Perfect for adding a touch of Mediterranean flavor to any dish.

290g jar

 

This Greek Olive Variety Gift Set includes 2 jars (290g each) of Organic Green (either Koutsourelia or Athinolua) and low salt organic kalamata Greek olives in Extra Virgin Olive Oil, lemon and thyme dressing. Enjoy the rich, authentic flavors of Greece with these handpicked, organic olives. Perfect for adding a touch of Mediterranean flavor to any dish.

The variety includes:

1 jar of Kalamata olives in a low salt extra virgin olive oil dressing

and

1 jar of green koutsourelia olives in extra virgin olive oil and lemon dressing

Or

1 jar of Green Athinolia olives in extra virgin olive oil and lemon dressing

Presented in a lovely windowed Kraft gift box with handle.

 

This Greek Olive Variety Gift Set includes 3 jars (290g each) of Organic Green and Black Greek olives in Extra Virgin Olive Oil dressing. Enjoy the rich, authentic flavors of Greece with these handpicked, organic olives. Perfect for adding a touch of Mediterranean flavor to any dish.

The variety includes:

1 jar of Kalamata olives in a low salt extra virgin olive oil dressing

1 jar of green koutsourelia olives in extra virgin olive oil and lemon dressing

1 jar of Green Athinolia olives in extra virgin olive oil and lemon dressing

Presented in a lovely windowed Kraft gift box with handle.

 

• A sweet aromatic honey made by bees feeding on orange blossom trees in Epirus in northern Greece
• The sweetness is offset by the bitter orange tanginess.
• This honey is thick and tends to crystallise almost as soon as it is jarred, which makes it great for spreading on toast and for adding to hot drinks.
• All our honeys are raw, unfiltered and unheated, thus preserving all their natural goodness. This honey tends to crystallise readily in cooler temperatures.
• Great Taste Award winner 2*

 

Organic Carob flour - from Crete, Greece; dairy free and gluten free - 
This delicious, ground carob powder can be used as a  flour substitute. It can also be mixed with wheat flour in baking. As it is a natural sweetener it requires less additional sugar.

Carob is rich in minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, high in protein, and 'good' fibre. It is gluten free and more nutritious than cocoa

This organic Greek Thyme honey is as natural and wholesome as it gets: it is made by a family of beekeepers whose hives are located in the very tops of the wild mountains of Crete. The bees feed on wild thyme, and their delicious strongly aromatic and flavour-rich honey is extracted directly from the honey comb at room temperature. This ensures that all the goodness – enzymes, propolis, beeswax and antioxidants – is left in. Raw, unprocessed, unheated Thyme honey is not only delicious, it is good for you ! Thyme honey is very rich in natural antioxidants. Thyme honey is also naturally antibacterial. Greek thyme honey is widely acknowledged to be the best in the world. It requires great skill and dedication by the beekeepers as making thyme honey is very hard work for the bees. This is Greek Thyme honey at its best - from the wild thyme bushes of the Cretan mountains.  

Certified organic by the Soil Association UK, licence no. 30695

Greek raw pine tree honey from Crete is a  scrumptious honey with the most amazing consistency, and which rarely crystallises due to its low fruit sugar content. Caramelly in texture, with a fresh taste which makes it ideal for eating neat off the spoon! Delicious with Greek yogurt, ice creams, other desserts, toast or sauces, and added to hot drinks. 

This raw Cretan Pine honey is produced by a bee keeping family in the mountains south of Agios Nikolaous. The bee hives are left in the dense Pine forests in the middle of the island at high altitude. The bees feed on the resin of the trees, producing a honey which has a lower sugar content than most other honeys which are made from flowers.

Great Taste Award winner.