posted by PHILEOS EVOO on October 7, 2024
Did you know that the Koroneiki olive is highly prized for its aromatic, strongly flavoured oil? Koroneiki olives are perfect for enjoying in their natural raw state or added at the end of cooking.
Also called “the queen of olives”, Koroneiki olives are recognized globally as one of the preferred varietals for olive oil production and one of the best ever. This variety has been described by Eyelpides and Krimba as Olea europea var. Mastoids and by Anagnostopoulos as Olea europaea var. Microcarpa.
What sets the Koroneiki apart from other cultivars is the seed and the olive oil produced combined with its unique method of farming. Koroneiki olives are harvested early when they are still green - between October and December to secure an olive oil of excellent quality. This is done in order to ensure the title of “early picked” or “green” olive oils and are mainly present in the south Peloponnese of Greece where Phileos olive orchards are located. The olive is a small size and its weight is from 0.3 to 1.0 grams and its length from 12 to 15 millimeters. The Koroneiki tree needs minor maintenance and can withstand low temperatures during winter. It gives the finest olive oil compared to other varieties.
Unlike many other varieties, the Koroneiki trees have no artificial additives interventions not to mention they are pruned intensively once a year to keep them small in size. The olive fruit has an intense unique taste and long shelf life thanks to its natural preservatives. The chlorophyll content is high so the oils are often quite green. "Ninety nine percent of the reason you should buy extra virgin olive oil is if it contains high level of polyphenols and not whether it has a great flavour." The Europeans know this and in North America we are years behind in recognizing this fact.
The mere 3 to 5 litres of the green gold liquid that is produced from a Koroneiki olive tree proves the obvious. Quantity is sacrificed in favour of quality. As a result, they have a unique taste and have a long shelf life thanks to these natural preservatives. The chlorophyll content is high so the oils are often quite green.
Heralded with high polyphenols (antioxidants) which is a great support for the immune system, as they reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. Its organoleptic characteristics have ranked it in the extra virgin category of olive oils which is characterized by certain special features, such as an exceptionally low acidity, high anti-inflammatory content, a deep, bright green colour with a bittersweet taste and a smooth taste feeling of various fruits.
Consumers are overwhelmed with the wide selection of olive oils when they walk down their favourite grocery aisle. Which oil should I buy? Where is this olive oil from? Why this olive Oil? Therefore, we'll make it simple for you. Buy Phileos of Sparta Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil if you want an olive oil packed with health benefits that is derived from the Koroneiki cultivar. "We don't need luxury in the olive oil industry. We just need really high quality at a price point where as many people can experience it as possible." This is the value proposition that our olive oil offers everyone.
Therefore, forget about the 139 olive cultivars grown around the world and buy our Premium Phileos of Sparta Extra Virgin Olive Oil made with the Koroneiki. With all due respect, the arbequina, hojiblanca, leccino, cobrancosa, mission or the Tunisian chemlali olives found in my local market do not contain all three of the most important attributes of a high quality olive oil such as Phileos - low acidity, very high level of polyphenols and great flavour. We balance all three attributes maginificently and are able to manufacture the highest quality year in and year out. The majority of olive oil producers around the world cannot claim this. They may hit on one or two of the attributes, but balancing all three is an extremely difficult feat that we have mastered over centuries using ancient and modern farming techniques.
Harvard trained New York Times best-selling author Dr. William Li is a fan of the Koroneiki and is his top pick as the healthiest olive cultivar. "My top pick is Koroneiki olive oil made with Greek Koroneiki olives. This olive is very potent in the bioactive polyphenol compound hydroxytyrosol, which is highly immune-enhancing, anti-angiogenic, and helps protect your DNA from damage.I'm very particular about what kind of olive oil I choose at the grocery store. Even though extra-virgin olive oil is generally the healthiest, the specific types of olives used to make it matter and have an effect on the quality of the oil they produce and its health benefits." In a nutshell, not all extra virgin olive oils are created equal!
At Phileos we're proud that we have the ability to produce "World Class Olive Oil Accessible to All." We use the right olives (koroneiki), follow the strictest olive oil manufactuering statndards in the world as per the European Union (producers from other regions of the world are not beholden to the standards). Furthermore, Phileos does not sources olives from other producers and countries and still claim the olive oil to be single source, becasue we have the capacity to scale production and have the quantity which ensures authenticity and the highest quality olive oil in the market.
The oil that is made from Koroneiki olives pairs well with salads, fish, chicken, pork, roasted vegetables, feta cheese, and just about any Greek dish. It’s an oil that pairs especially well with chicken and lamb dishes that feature oregano and lemon. Koroneiki Greek olive oil also makes a good dipping oil. Moreover, it has a long stable shelf life and is a versatile olive oil to be used for all your daily cooking needs.