Title – Name
Cretan Olive Oil Farm
Scope / Sector / Industry
Olive Oil Tourism
Country / Region
Greece, Crete
Why is it good practice?
The Cretan Olive Farm is a good practice of agro-tourism business, as it offers a set of activities, which aim to introduce the visitor to the tradition of Cretan olive oil and, at the same time, to the gastronomy and cultural tradition of the island. The farm’s activities have an educational and strongly experiential nature, as most require the participation of the visitor with all his senses. Also, despite the fact that the farm has as its main visiting element the olive mill, it is not limited only to the promotion of olive oil and its production process, but also combines other activities, giving the visitor a holistic approach to Cretan cuisine and local culture.
How is it applied?
The Cretan Olive Oil Farm is an agro-tourism farm in Agios Nikolaos, Crete. It was created in 2014 following the family’s need to revive the traditional factory that they owned and which dated back to the 19th century. Initially the olive mill was located in the village of Vrouha in Crete, however it was moved to the farm where it is housed today, intact, together with the various objects of the time. Everything was reassembled, as they were found in their original environment and today it is a traditional oil mill, which operates with traditional methods and techniques and is open to visitors. On the farm, in addition to the oil mill, herbs and more than 60 varieties of plants have been planted in a small area of about 4000 m2. At the same time, there is a farm with domestic animals and a pottery workshop.
The goal of the family that manages the olive mill is to produce a nutritious and quality olive oil from natural and organic olives, as well as to spread Cretan gastronomy and local products that are less known to tourists. The effort to revive the Cretan tradition, flavors and recipes is reflected in the activities it has planned in the context of the operation of the Cretan Olive Oil Farm. These activities are summarized below:
Tour and tasting:
The tour includes 10 stops that bring the visitor closer to Cretan gastronomy. The stops introduce the visitor to Cretan herbs, Aloe vera, olives, olive oil production, the wine press, traditional raki distillery, sunbathing, carob, Cretan beekeeping and traditional cheese making. The tour includes a tasting of more than 30 different homemade and original Cretan products, either from the family itself or from local producers.
It is important to mention that it is possible to explore and taste the farm with the help of modern technology. In particular, visitors can come to the farm without a reservation, pick up a tablet and take a safe tour of the farm. The tour is offered in three languages, English, French and German.
Demonstrations of olive oil production:
The activity includes a hands-on experience of making olive oil, by the visitors themselves, as it was done by the family’s ancestors. It is an authentic experience that includes weighing the olives, placing them in the mill, pushing the traditional mill and pressing them to produce oil. It is important to mention that after this participatory process, a souvenir bottle of the Farm’s Extra Virgin Handmade Olive Oil is given.
Cooking classes:
The activity includes hands-on cooking experience, guided by a local chef. The aim of the activity is for visitors to learn how to make authentic Cretan dishes, using a wide variety of fresh, organic ingredients from the farm’s garden. The visitor has the possibility to choose between four different menus, while at the end he can enjoy the dishes he prepared together with wine and raki from the farm.
Cheese making:
The activity includes hands-on cheese-making experience, guided by a local shepherd. The visitor has the opportunity to participate in the milking and feeding of the farm’s goats, to help produce two types of cheese and to learn the secrets of cheesemaking in Crete. While the production of the cheese lasts, a tasting of other local Cretan cheeses is offered, while at the end, the visitor can enjoy the cheese he made together with homemade food and raki.
Pottery:
The activity includes a pottery lesson, guided by experienced instructors. The visitor, through the activity, can learn the secrets of using the potter’s wheel and transform a piece of clay into a piece of pottery. At the end of the course, the visitor receives a clay pot as a reminder of their experience.
Wine Tasting:
The activity includes a tour around the farm and an introduction to Cretan wines. In addition, a tasting of the 7 most famous Cretan wines is offered, accompanied by Cretan appetizers from the farm itself.
Cretan Festival:
The farm offers the possibility of organizing a “Cretan Festival” for groups. A Cretan Festival consists of multiple simultaneous experiences (wine tasting, olive oil production and cooking lessons), live Cretan and Greek music accompanied by traditional Cretan dancers, participation in grape pressing and all of the above accompanied by local food and wine and raki.
Panorama of Cretan Culture:
The activity includes an interactive experience from which the visitor learns everything about the Cretan way of life, such as old traditions, olive oil production, original types of cheese and authentic Cretan recipes. Specifically, there is a guided tour around the farm, followed by the cheese making activity and finished with a cooking class. The purpose of the tour is to introduce the visitor to the production of olive oil, the harvesting of olives, the production of wine and raki, as well as the production of honey and to offer the possibility of discovering Cretan herbs. He continues with the cheese-making activity and a cooking class. At the end of the activity, the visitor can taste farm products such as olive oil, wine, raki, honey, carob products and many others.
Where is it applied?
The Cretan Olive Oil Farm is aimed at those who wish to experience an authentic agro-tourism experience, which emphasizes the promotion of Cretan olive oil and the tradition surrounding it, as well as the discovery of Cretan gastronomy and the special local products of the island.
When did it applied?
The Cretan Olive Oil Farm, in its current form, was created in 2014.
Other Information
In the context of spreading Cretan gastronomy and local products, the farm’s family, even before the reopening of the olive mill, participated in the publication of two related books, with the support of local women from Vrouha, Kritsa, Limnes and other nearby villages. The first book was by Dr. Schleicher entitled “Der sensationelle Kreta Diet” and the second was by chef Eckart Witzigmann entitled “Kreta kock Buch”. Both books became best sellers.
Through the writing of these books, the family rediscovered the authentic flavors, recipes and traditional products used by their ancestors and through the search for local producers began to prepare a wide range of Cretan products.
The official website of the Cretan Olive Oil Farm is: https://www.cretanoliveoilfarm.com/
