Five fascinating facts about Greek olive oil
These fascinating facts about Greek olive oil will make you want to rush out to get your hands on a bottle and apologise to Jennifer Lopez.
Olive oil has a deep history and culture in Greece, Spain, Italy and Turkey. It is part of their national identity.
While all four countries are known for their high-quality olive oils, which one you like the most will depend on your flavour preference.
Olive oil is believed to have originated in the Mediterranean Basin as far back as 2500 BC or "somewhere in The Middle East".
It has gained popularity worldwide, including South Africa, which has steadily built a reputation for high-end olive oil.
It is loved for its versatility in cooking. It can be drizzled on a salad, used as a base for dips or added to coffee.
Olive oil, particularly the 'extra virgin' kind, has immense health benefits thanks to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
The monounsaturated fats in olive oil also help maintain good cholesterol levels.
There is something a little extra about Greek olive oil. It is known for its high polyphenol content and its "grassy, fruity, robust" flavours.
Here's a look at five fascinating facts about Greek olive oil that you probably didn't know about.
1. Olive trees as old as time
The Greek island of Crete, where some of the world's best olive oil is made, is home to one of the oldest olive trees that still bears fruit. The Olive Tree of Vouves is thought to be at least 2,000 years old. However, some researchers estimate that it could be more than 4,000 years old.
It's not the only olive oil tree in Greece that has been around long before your grandmother drizzled olive oil over your homemade gyro sandwich. Several other olive trees in Greece are also around 2,000 years old, including the 'Olive Tree of Kavousi' and the olive trees of Zakynthos and Peloponnese.
2. Queen of extra virgin olive oil
When it comes to olive oil of the highest quality, Greece means business. Around 80% of the country's olive oil production is extra virgin, which is considered the highest grade. An olive has to meet the highest quality standards to be considered 'extra virgin'.
According to the Olive Wellness Institute, extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) 'is a natural olive oil that has a free acidity, expressed as free oleic acid, of no more than 0.8 grams per 100 grams and no sensory defects... As a result of its high quality and minimal processing, EVOO is high in natural antioxidants, vitamin E and phytosterols from the olive fruit.'
But be careful; some brands on grocery store shelves claiming to be extra virgin olive oil don't meet high-quality standards.
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3. And the winner gets... olive oil
Before Olympic gold medals, there were olive wreaths and olive oil!
Forget about glory and honour; the winners of the Olympic Games in ancient Greece were given something that everyone in the village hoped they could get their hands on - an amphorae filled with liquid gold, aka premium olive oil. It was allegedly worth a lot of money back then.
Considering some bottles of 1L extra virgin olive cost R329 in 2025, we can't say we are too surprised.
4. 120 000 000 olive oil trees
With the average Greek consuming 12 to 20 litres of olive oil a year, it makes sense that the country would be home to scores of olive trees. In fact, there are over 120 million olive trees in Greece.
5. Maybe Jennifer Lopez was right about olive oil
American singer Jennifer Lopez was ridiculed online in 2020 when she declared that the secret to her youthful looks was not Botox but olive oil. She even included it in her range of beauty products.
"The hero ingredient and the basis of the line was kind of a secret that my mom and aunt had from a very young age, which is olive oil. It's nature's secret ingredient which we don't use enough of. They would use it on their skin and on their body, their face and their hair to get like a glow and to highly hydrate and moisturise," she told People in an interview.
'Jenny from the Block' may have been on to something. According to the history books, ancient Greeks used olive oil for skincare, including moisturising and sunscreen. The antioxidants in olive oil were also believed to be great for anti-ageing.
As if we needed any more reasons to love the liquid gold that is olive oil!
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