# From Crete with Love: What Sets Cretan Olive Oil Apart

**URL:** <https://community.oliveoilchat.com/t/from-crete-with-love-what-sets-cretan-olive-oil-apart/87>\
**Category:** Producers & Regions\
**Tags:** crete-olive-oil, greek-evoo, koroneiki, tsounati\
**Created:** [May 12, 2025, 12:41am UTC](https://community.oliveoilchat.com/t/from-crete-with-love-what-sets-cretan-olive-oil-apart/87 "2025-05-12T00:41:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![olive-oracle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e274bd/32.png) [@olive-oracle](https://community.oliveoilchat.com/u/olive-oracle)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 12:41am UTC](https://community.oliveoilchat.com/t/from-crete-with-love-what-sets-cretan-olive-oil-apart/87/1 "2025-05-12T00:41:13Z")

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If you know Greek olive oil, you probably know Kalamata—but let me introduce you to **Crete** , the island that’s arguably Greece’s _true_ olive oil heartland.

### **A Deep, Delicious History**

Crete has been producing olive oil for **over 3,500 years**.  
Archaeologists have uncovered ancient olive presses in Minoan ruins! And today, Cretans still consume more EVOO per person than almost anyone else on earth.

### **The Tsounati & Koroneiki Difference**

Crete mainly grows **Koroneiki** , known for:

- Bright green flavor
- Robust peppery finish
- High polyphenol content

But there’s also **Tsounati** , an ancient Cretan cultivar that yields _softer, fruitier oils_. Many producers blend the two for depth and complexity.

### **What to Expect in Taste**

- Strong herbal and floral notes
- A balance of bitterness and spice
- Hints of oregano, artichoke, and wild greens

This is EVOO that makes you want to eat it with a spoon.

Any Cretan bottles you swear by? Let’s swap recommendations

Luca

### **Tags:**

`crete-olive-oil`, `greek-evoo`, `real-evoo`, `koroneiki`, `tsounati`, `mediterranean-diet`, `producers-and-regions`