Divine Olive Oil

October marks the beginning of the Ladia, that is the olive harvest, which lasts until March. Participate in harvesting of the olives and the olive oil extract process. Sit under an ancient olive tree, relax and imagine it’s centuries-old stories. Eat a slice of bread sprinkled with fresh olive oil, salt and oregano and feel its balmy taste. Visit ancient and modern olive oil presses and experience the evolution of the olive oil production through the centuries.

Traditional Olive Presses

Along the Heartland villages, you will come across a number of restored traditional olive presses, which were built usually at  church squares or in monasteries. These traditional presses were typically made of stone or wood and used a combination of pressing and grinding to extract the oil from olives. Usually, a heavy mill stone is fitted in a stone basin and is turned to crush the olives. The poult of the crushed olives is then  placed in special woven baskets, zembilia, and is  placed under heavy stones or in a press to extract every drop of the precious olive oil.

Visiting one of these old olive presses can be a fascinating way to learn about the island’s heritage and traditional methods of olive oil production:

• Lythrodontas Olive Press
• Palaichori Olive Press
• Choirokoitia Olive Press
• Tochni Olive Press
• Kalavasos Olive Press
• Prastio Olive Press

Cypriot Olive oil

Cypriot extra virgin olive oil has a distinctive, fruity aroma and robust flavour, both of which are attributed to the variety of the Cypriot olive tree and the soil conditions. The fruity profile combines the fragrant scents of green tomatoes, artichokes and, in some cases, freshly-cut grass or bitter almonds. On the palate, the taste is slightly bitter with a moderate pungency in the throat and a pleasant aftertaste without any greasy mouthfeel. These desirable characteristics are considered positive indicators of quality and distinction.

Ancient olive trees and groves

Ancient trees, which managed to survive throughout the centuries are considered “Monuments of Nature”. Our Forestry Department has identified 115 individual trees and 27 tree groves such monuments. Some of the most important ancient olive trees and groves are:

• 800 years old olive tree in Kyperounta village. It is 5m tall and a perimeter of 8.10m
• 800 years old olive tree in Lefkara village. It is 4m tall and a perimeter of 7.20m
• 700 years old olive tree in Agglisides village. It is 6m tall and a perimeter of 10.35m
• 700 years old olive tree in Avdimou village. It is 5m tall and a perimeter of 8.70m
• 28 olive trees near Germasogeia village
• 43 olive trees near Anogyra village
• and 18 olive trees near Pano Lefkara village.

Labeled with “Taste Cyprus” restaurants/taverns nearby: