Trade mark protection of  origin 'Sitia Lasithi Crete'

'The precious oil of a blessed land'

The magical journey of olive oil production....

In addition to this blessed land are the able and dedicated people of the Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Sitia. Cultivators and producers with a deep culture surrounding the olive, its experts and adorers, who take care to preserve all the prerequisites in order to produce the ideal olive oil as a Protected Designation of Origin, Sitia, Lassithi, Crete.

They achieve the perfect health of the olive groves by fighting its enemies and its diseases and especially the olive fly (dacus oleae), using decoy methods. The collection of the olives is done by beating the trees with staffs, taking care that the fruit is at the right stage of maturity and transport of the harvest is done using sacks made from vegetable fibres, holding up to 50 kilos. In this way, the quality of the olives is assured with less than %% of foreign matter and damaged fruit incurred and the processing always takes place within 3 days at oil presses in the prefecture of Sitia, maintaining a temperature of less than 30o C throughout all stages of production.

However, the endeavour does not stop here. In order to finally achieve the objective, the people of the Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Sitia continue the quality controls until finally and oil is selected that is superb in every respect! SITIA 0,3. An olive oil at peak quality with an acidity of up to 0,3% and exception constitution, taste and aroma.
 
A tree with deep roots ….

Only a little travelling around the region of Sitia is needed to become aware of the presence everywhere and the great importance of the olive tree to this area.  A presence that has its roots in the depths of history .. in the years of the Minoan era, when the cultivation of the olive tree first began in Crete. One can only admire the ardent desire and dedication of the growers of this tree, for the respect shown to traditional values belonging to yesterday that blend in perfect harmony with today’s modern methods the producers of olive oil have achieved. And also for the love that the Cretans for years now have for the olive tree and oils oil by including them in their lives.

 … in a place which loves and has been loved

If we look a little deeper into the Sitian tradition regarding the cultivation of the olive tree, one could presume that this beneficent fruit chose to offer its superior oil to this region. The Sitia 0,3.

 Firstly, it gave preference to the climate with its annual 3.000 hours of sunshine so that the oil would contain the richest aromatic ingredients. It chose the mountainous and hilly land so that its special taste would be ensured by the dryness of the earth and its limestone composition that make the aroma even more intense.

Finally, what is the name of the variety which is given to this oil? Koroneiki. The one and only variety that perfectly matches Sitia’s characteristics.

SITIA 0,3 ... The most admired and much awarded olive oil …

This oil, which is distinguished by its golden-green colour, its intricate fresh aromas of unripe fruit and green herbs, the balance between sweet and bitter, the magical taste on the tongue and the amazing duration of its after-taste, has travelled all over the world and has charmed it.

Both in 1998, in the competition organised by the Spanish National Council of Olive Oil as well as in the 5th SOL Exhibition in Italy, in 1999, this exceptional extra nativ (virgin) olive oil, SITIA 0,3 was awarded the 1st prize, confirming and rewarding in this way the endeavours of the Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Sitia.
 

… daily verification for mind and body

The greatest prize of all thought that SITIA 0,3 has been accepted comes from the consumers themselves who, honouring the superior taste and its beneficial properties for human health, have established it in their daily diet. In additions, another advantage of SITIA 0,3 is its many uses. It is an oil so delicious that it can be used “as is” in salads, with greens, fish and vegetables, in cooking and in frying because it withstands specially high temperatures.

Finally, a secret in order to preserve all the nutritious and tasty characteristics is to add the oil to food 10 minutes before finishing cooking.