Elisson


ear friends of good olive oil,

"ELISSON" olive oil is an excellent organic olive oil from the region of Corinthia (Peloponnesus, Greece). Our small family-company has succeeded in introducing high-quality olive oil directly from producer to consumer to the market. We are convinced that our endeavours will encourage other farmers in our region to go into the production of organic olive oil and moreover that you as conscious consumers will benefit from this production-philosophy....

he village of Kryoneri is proud of its many centuries old tradition of olive cultivation. Our family has been cultivating olives since the 17th century. Our olive grove measures 4 hectares (40,000 sq m) which means we are by no means involved in mass production. Every year depending on the weather our 700 trees give us 5,000-15,000 kilos Megaritiki and Manaki- olives which are the typical kinds of the region. Out of this amount we gain 1000-3000 litres of high-class olive oil annually. The location (350 metres above sea-level, 20km distance from the sea), the fertile soil and the natural cultivation are all determents of colour, flavour and the nutritional value of our oil.

he cultivation fulfils the strict demands of the Organic Farming (EU-directives 834/2007 and 889/2008). We use organic fertilizers only and possible illnesses are exclusively fought with natural products. This is our small contribution to the protection of the environment and the protection of the consumer's rights. Neither do we pollute our precious ground-water with chemical fertilizers nor will our consumers find cancerous rests of pesticides or insecticides in our products.

he whole process is supervised by an agricultural engineer of the Greek Inspection Institute for Organic Products (BIO Hellas). This is an EU-approved authority with the code EL-03-BIO. The bottled and ready olive oil undergoes a thorough quality and chemical analysis. In the end the oil is certificated and categorized in the highest quality category. Our product has the certificate number B-407728.

ur trees are not watered artificially. Many farmers choose artificial watering to increase their production thereby wasting precious drinking-water. We do not! Not only because of our respect for nature; the trees grow according to the natural circle of life, become more resistant and without a doubt give better olive oil.

he olive harvest takes place every November. With the help of hand rakes the fruits are manually "combed" from the branches. This more expensive method of harvesting is less aggressive for the trees and the olive oil is not spoiled by a high amount of free fat acids (as it is the case if one lets the fruits fall into nets). During harvest time the trees are cut back. This helps them to gain air and strength for the following year.

o ensure hat the olive oil has a lower amount than 0.8 % of acids we extract the oil latest within two days after the harvest. Our olive oil never reaches this 0.8 % limit and is therefore classified as extra virgin olive oil of superior quality every year. The oil extracting factory operated by the Apostopoulos family is situated near our olive grove. It is also supervised by an Inspection institute for organic products (DIO). They combine their inter-generational experience with the use of modern technologies. This guarantees an exact and careful working process starting with the washing and pressing of the olives over the kneading of the olive paste and resulting in the centrifugation and separation of olive oil from water and rests of olives.
The ELISSON olive oil is cold extracted* (this means that during the whole process the temperature of the olive paste and later of the olive oil does not rise above 27° C). That way we maintain the unique flavour and healing substances of the oil.

* Careful! Many bottles of olive oil carry an etiquette "cold pressed" or "cold extracted". This merely means that the olive oil has not been heated up. In most cases the mash is processed at more than 30° C and when it comes to the separation of the oil from the water the oil has often reached a temperature of more than 35°C. According to the European Commission Regulation (EC) 1019/02 only olive oil that has been extracted with a temperature below 27° C can be indicated as "cold extracted".

he bottling takes place in the plant of Vangelis Melas is situated near the antique theatre of Epidaurus. This company is also strictly controlled by BIO Hellas. We therefore can assure that our oil is not contaminated by other oils produced on a conventional base.
ELISSON oil is a non-filtered oil. The reasons for filtering are only aesthetic ones as it prevents that pulp settles down on the bottom of the bottle. However filtering causes the olive oil to loose flavour, nutrients and its healing effects.

he final product is an extra virgin olive oil of superior quality. It has a mild and fruity flavour and does not "burn" in the throat. If stored in a cool, dry and dark place at a temperature between 8 and 20° C it can be used for a long time (until the best-before-date on the etiquette).