Mediterranean lifestyle Archives - Caroline Robitaille

A Delicious Extra Virgin Olive Oil from the fields of Greece

Did you know that you can enjoy an exceptional Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Greece by ordering it on Amazon? It’s true and Thea Olive Oil has made this possible. This is a wonderful extra virgin olive oil that can be used for cooking and as a finishing to enhance your dish. It’s a light to medium intensity, and oh so fresh! It goes well with fruits, vegetables, poultry, fish and some cheeses. I use it in and on many desserts as well.

During our recent trip to Greece for their olive oil harvest season we had the pleasure of having dinner with part of the Thea family.

My son, Joseph on the left and I’m in between Vasilis and Eliana

Their olives are Koroneiki variety from Kalamata, Peloponnese, Greece. While some producers use machines to capture their olives, to ensure that there is minimal damage to the fruit, the Thea family handpicks their olives. Always with the utmost care for the land where the olives grow as well. Their olive oil is a monovarietal which is made from 100% Koroneiki olives. The Koroneiki olive is considered the “queen of olives” in Greece. Its native to the Peloponnese region of southern Greece.

And while we are enjoying our Thea Extra Virgin Olive Oil, like so many across the Northern Hemisphere, Elias Militsis is pruning his grove for healthy olives next year.

Elias Militsis has been harvesting for as long as he can remember. The olive groves in Kalamata, Greece were passed down to him from his grandfather, and each year he tends to them and harvests the olives with his family. The work involved is strenuous as traditional methods are used without big machinery, and the terrain is rocky. Besides harvesting the olives, pruning and watering the trees during the year are important to prepare for the next years harvest. The olive harvesting has always been a way of life, and the olive oil produced has been used for family cooking needs for the rest of the year. Until recently, when his son, Vasilis and daughter-in-law, Eliana decided to botte the olive oil and share it with the world, labeled Thea Olive Oil… and we are so happy that they did! I’m never without it in my kitchen. You can find their delicious Extra Virgin Olive Oil at https://www.amazon.com

January 24, 2020 By Caroline Robitaille

Olive Harvest

Brothers on a mission

It was our very first harvest day in Greece, located near Kalamata. Kostas Liris, an agronomist and a leader in is his field, was working with a family of olive oil producers and invited us to experience what a harvest looked like. The day turned out to be much more than just a harvest.

My son, Joseph and I met Kostas at our hotel and jumped into his car. On our way, we stopped at a small local shop that had meat displayed in the window. Joseph quickly followed Kostas to experience first hand whatever was about to happen. When they returned Kostas explained that he had picked up some already prepare lamb to have for lunch. Joseph had a very big smile on his face and off we went.

But first there was work to be done! We arrived at a home with fields of olive trees and we were greeted by Olivé, with a very warm welcome. Olivé is one of the two brothers who gave up a career in finance to pursue his dream for his family with simpler days amongst the olive trees. Chris, Olive’s brother wasn’t there this day. Olive took us to the back of the house where family and friends were hard at work.

When you find a producer such as this family, there is a great respect for how olives and the trees they grow on are treated. We wanted to learn and while there we wanted to help. Joseph and I quickly jumped in and started following the rest, while trying to stay out of the way. This is a critical time during the process because once the olives are removed from the trees they must arrive at the mill within a few short hours. Olives are highly perishable and will start to ferment quickly, which will then reflect in the taste of the oil.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 19.11JosephWorkersInField.jpg — Carefully removing olives so not to injure them

A life now filled with the unknowns, hard work, coupled with excitement, joy and pure beauty all wrapped into a day, a month, and years of work. To be a small olive oil producer means you are putting your heart and soul into something that you love deeply. It’s anything but boring and sure to be exceptionally beautiful. A life that his children can grow up in while experiencing the gifts of cultivating a slower life, surrounded by close family and friends.

A way of life passed down through the generations

January 24, 2020 By Caroline Robitaille