The olive harvest at Mavronero is in, and this year’s oil is ready. It is organic extra virgin olive oil made from 100% Koroneiki olives grown on our own trees near Anglisides, in the Larnaca District of Cyprus, and pressed within 12 hours of harvest.
The oil is available in 4-litre tins for €50. Here is a little more about the variety and how we make it.
What is Koroneiki?
Koroneiki is the most widespread olive oil variety in Greece, where most plantations are in Crete and the Peloponnese. Today it is grown across the Mediterranean, including in Cyprus.
The fruit is small, and the trees start producing early and give high, steady yields. Koroneiki is considered tolerant to drought, which suits the hot, dry summers we have in Cyprus. It is grown mainly for oil, and it is valued for both its oil yield and its quality.
How Koroneiki olive oil tastes
Koroneiki oils are usually described as fresh and green, with notes such as cut grass, green apple, artichoke or almond. They often finish with a peppery feeling at the back of the throat and a slight bitterness. Both are normal in fresh extra virgin olive oil and are part of its character.
From our trees to the tin
Mavronero is home to more than 1,000 olive trees, at around 270 metres above sea level. Our olive groves are certified organic, with Lacon as the control body (CY-BIO-001).
At harvest, the olives are pressed within 12 hours. Once olives are off the tree, they start to deteriorate, so a short time between harvest and pressing helps protect the flavour and quality of the oil.
How to use it
Koroneiki olive oil has a strong personality, so it is at its best where you can taste it:
- Raw, over salads, vegetables, legumes, soups or grilled fish
- With bread, as a dipping oil
- For roasting and cooking at medium heat
For delicate baking, where you want a neutral fat, a milder oil may suit better. To keep the flavour, store the oil in a cool, dark place, with the container well closed.
Order this year’s harvest
- 4 litres: €50
- Pick-up: at our farm or at our Larnaca office
- Order: call +357 247 275 29 or email mail@mavronero.cy
