Koroneiki olive variety: the queen of oil producing olive trees

If you’re an olive oil lover, Greek oils have a lot to offer and well worth the effort of seeking them out if you’re visiting Greece or at your local grocery. You’ve probably tasted some of them already.

But did you know that, even if Greece produces hundreds of olive varieties, the most common variety for oil production - Koroneiki olives - covers 50-60% of the acreage in Greece? Known for its regal, small fruits, but having a high quality oil yield, Koroneiki olives are among the most common and suitable for super-high density growing systems around the world. Highly prized for its aromatic, strongly flavored oil, Koroneiki olives are perfect for enjoying in their natural raw state or added at the end of cooking. 

What sets Koroneiki apart when referring to the seed and the olive oil produced is the unique method of farming. Koroneiki olives are harvested when they are still green -  between November and December - in order to ensure the title of “early picked” or “green” olive oils and are mainly present in the south Peloponnese and in some areas of Crete for more than 10 centuries. Unlike many other varieties, these trees have no artificial additives interventions not to mention that they are pruned intensively once a year to keep them small in size. The mere 3 to 5 liters of the green gold liquid that is produced from a Koroneiki olive tree proves the obvious. Quantity is sacrificed in favor of quality.

Heralded with high polyphenols (antioxidants) which is a great support for the immune system, as they reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer, the Koroneiki olive variety was named after the historic town of Koroni, in the Messinia region of the Peloponnese. Its organoleptic characteristics have ranked it in the extra virgin category of olive oils which is characterized by certain special features, such as an exceptionally low acidity, a deep, bright green color with a bittersweet taste and a smooth taste feeling of various fruits.

Also called “the queen of olives”, Koroneiki olives are considered and are recognized globally as one of the preferred varietals for oil production. 

At HERI ME HERI you will find premium quality extra virgin olive oil with a complex aroma, made of the Koroneiki olive variety. With its low free fatty acids (less than 0.3%) and a long shelf life due to the high level of polyphenols, our olive oil from this highly prized variety has a rich flavor that will pleasure even the most demanding customer!