Everything is so silent, so still, disturbingly so! It is my first walk in over a month amongst our olive trees, the silence hits me; it’s the first time since the start of the harvest that the farm is so silent. Now that the trees no longer have their bright green fruits, that everyone is gone, that the oil is in the vats, the machinery silent, they too seem confused, tiered, lost in reflections on what just happened around them. Maybe it’s just me reflecting my sate of being on them, maybe not.

The last harvest has been a gigantic effort; everyone and everything on the farm was tested, pushed, forced, stressed and encouraged, and we did it again, and better than last time! The challenge this year included building and running our own mill, harvesting the first crop of the trees we planted in 2020 and milling several batches of olives from neighbouring farms.

Assembling the mill, debugging it and tuning it was a frantic runup to the start of the harvest. A big effort for us and for all the suppliers that worked with us. By the time we were ready the olives started rolling in, and as we were engaged with the mill, outside in the olive groves, all the family, friends and dozens of people from all over the world where racing with time to collect the fruit at its best and rush it to our door.

The dream of picking and harvesting in a continuous flow has finally come true; directly from the trees into the mill, same hour same day, great to see, to experience and taste the importance of this privileged production practice.

We had our fair share of challenges, the weather was punishing, in a month we had the rainfall of six, the temperatures where way below seasonal average. Days of frustration and fear for the crop, but patience and wise choices got us though. The fruit ripened slowly, flavours are so different, the water content of the olives was high, damage was irreparable; the yields of oil per tonne of fruit started in the 5% range instead of 10% in late September and finished at 10% in November rather than 15%.

Milling is an athlete’s job. If I thought harvesting was hard work, take my word, milling is Olympic stuff! Physically and mentally demanding, long hours into the night, complex systems and processes to manage, every distraction comes with a consequence, every mistake compounds with the previous one. It’s like being on a racing yacht, everyone must do his bit perfectly, the crew has to act in unison, act intuitively and anticipate events, learn each other’s strengths and fragilities, and complement the virtues, defects and secrets of the equipment.

I must not stop and think about all this effort, the sacrifices, the commitment and the entrepreneurial risk, it’s all unreasonable, it’s unexplainable using rational metrics.

But if I use my heart, other senses, if I let these trees talk to me of the many generations before us that have confronted similar challenges, overcome the same hurdles and contributed to the culinary excellence of the Mediterranean diet and our lifestyle, I shed all fears.

I know we are doing the right thing to give a spoonful a day to each one of you, a spoonful of magic, directly from our trees for your pleasure, for your loved ones and their longevity.

Culinary nutrition aims to bridge the gap between nutrition science and practical, everyday food preparation.

Use our Organic Olive Oil for nourishing Your Well-Being:

  • Culinary Excellence: Immerse your senses in the rich aromas and smooth complexity of our newly pressed olive oil, a product of this year’s harvest and a testament to exceptional freshness.
  • Scientifically Proven Health Benefits: Beyond its distinguished green taste, our olive oil is a powerhouse of scientifically proven health benefits, making it a valuable addition to your daily routine.

Scientifically Validated Health Claims:

  • Heart Health: Numerous studies have shown that the monounsaturated fats in olive oil, specifically oleic acid, contribute to maintaining healthy cholesterol levels and supporting cardiovascular well-being.
  • Anti-Inflammatory Properties: The polyphenols in our olive oil act as natural anti-inflammatories, playing a pivotal role in reducing inflammation and supporting your body’s defence mechanisms.
  • Rich in Antioxidants: Olive oil is abundant in antioxidants, such as Vitamin E and polyphenols, which help neutralize free radicals and contribute to overall health and vitality.

write to: info@oleaprilis.com to pre- order the new 2024 oil

Add some Biophenols to your life! BEWARE: Oils with low content of Biophenols do not provide the health benefits that olive oil is renowned for!

Are you ready to nourish your well-being ?

Thank you for being a part of our journey toward well-being and culinary excellence. For any inquiries or to delve deeper into the science behind our olive oil, and culinary nutrition feel free to respond to this email or drop me a line at info@oleaprilis.com and we will tell you what we know!