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 prime example of best practice in agri-tourism, as it offers a range of activities designed to introduce visitors to the tradition of Cretan olive oil and, at the same time, to the island’s gastronomy and cultural heritage. The farm’s activities are educational and highly experiential in nature, as most of them require visitors to engage all their senses. Furthermore, although the olive press is the farm’s main attraction, the experience is not limited solely to promoting olive oil and its production process; it also incorporates other activities, offering visitors a holistic insight into Cretan cuisine and local culture.
How is it applied?
The Cretan Olive Oil Farm is an agritourism farm in Agios Nikolaos, Crete. It was established in 2014 in response to the family’s desire to revive the traditional olive mill they owned, which dated back to the 19th century. Originally, the olive mill was situated in the village of Vrouha in Crete; however, it was relocated to the farm where it stands today, intact, along with the various artefacts from that era. Everything was reassembled exactly as it was found in its original setting, and today it is a traditional oil mill, operating using traditional methods and techniques, and 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 around 4,000 m². There is also a farm with domestic animals and a pottery workshop.
The aim of the family that runs the olive mill is to produce nutritious, high-quality olive oil from natural and organic olives, as well as to promote Cretan cuisine and local products that are less well known to tourists. The effort to revive Cretan traditions, flavours and recipes is reflected in the activities planned as part of the Cretan Olive Oil Farm’s operations. These activities are summarised below:
Tour and tasting:
The tour includes 10 stops that give visitors an insight into Cretan gastronomy. The stops introduce visitors to Cretan herbs, aloe vera, olives, olive oil production, the wine press, a traditional raki distillery, sunbathing, carob, Cretan beekeeping and traditional cheese-making. The tour includes a tasting of more than 30 different homemade and authentic Cretan products, either produced by the family themselves or by local producers.
It is worth noting that it is possible to explore and experience the farm with the help of modern technology. In particular, visitors can visit the farm without a booking, pick up a tablet and take a safe tour of the farm. The tour is available in three languages: English, French and German.
Demonstrations of olive oil production:
The activity includes a hands-on experience of making olive oil, carried out by the visitors themselves, just as the family’s ancestors used to do. It is an authentic experience that involves weighing the olives, placing them in the mill, operating the traditional mill and pressing them to produce oil. It is worth noting that following this hands-on activity, visitors are presented with a souvenir bottle of the farm’s extra virgin handmade olive oil.
Cooking classes:
The activity includes a hands-on cooking experience, led 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. Visitors can choose from four different menus, and at the end they can enjoy the dishes they have prepared, accompanied by wine and raki from the farm.
Cheese-making:
The activity includes a hands-on cheese-making experience, led by a local shepherd. Visitors have the opportunity to take part in milking and feeding the farm’s goats, to help make two types of cheese, and to learn the secrets of cheese-making in Crete. Whilst the cheese is being made, visitors are offered a tasting of other local Cretan cheeses, and at the end, they can enjoy the cheese they have made, accompanied by homemade food and raki.
Pottery:
The activity includes a pottery lesson led by experienced instructors. Through this activity, visitors 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, visitors receive a clay pot as a memento of their experience.
Wine Tasting:
The activity includes a tour of the farm and an introduction to Cretan wines. In addition, a tasting of the seven most famous Cretan wines is offered, accompanied by Cretan appetisers produced on the farm itself.
Cretan Festival:
The farm offers the opportunity to organise a “Cretan Festival” for groups. A Cretan Festival comprises a range of concurrent activities (wine tasting, olive oil production and cookery classes), live Cretan and Greek music accompanied by traditional Cretan dancers, the chance to take part in grape pressing, and all of the above accompanied by local food, wine and raki.
A Panorama of Cretan Culture:
The activity includes an interactive experience through which visitors learn all about the Cretan way of life, such as ancient traditions, olive oil production, traditional cheeses and authentic Cretan recipes. Specifically, it comprises a guided tour of the farm, followed by a cheese-making session and concluding with a cookery class. The aim of the tour is to introduce visitors to olive oil production, olive harvesting, the production of wine and raki, as well as honey production, and to offer them the chance to discover Cretan herbs. This is followed by the cheese-making activity and a cooking class. At the end of the activity, visitors can sample farm produce 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 enjoy an authentic agritourism experience, which focuses on promoting Cretan olive oil and the traditions associated with it, as well as exploring Cretan cuisine and the island’s special local produce.
When did it apply?
The Cretan Olive Oil Farm, as it stands today, was established in 2014.
Other information
As part of their efforts to promote Cretan cuisine and local produce, the farm’s family, even before the olive mill reopened, helped to publish two books on the subject, with the support of local women from Vrouha, Kritsa, Limnes and other nearby villages. The first book, by Dr Schleicher, was entitled *Der sensationelle Kreta Diet*, and the second, by chef Eckart Witzigmann, was entitled *Kreta kock Buch*. Both books became bestsellers.
Through writing these books, the family rediscovered the authentic flavours, recipes and traditional products used by their ancestors, and, by seeking out local producers, began to produce a wide range of Cretan products.
The official website of the Cretan Olive Oil Farm is: https://www.cretanoliveoilfarm.com/