Terra CretaAward Winning | Kolymvari Estates | 100% Pure Greek Olive Oil | Cold Extracted | Protective Designation of Origin | 3Ltr - (101.4 fl.oz) Tin

In some ways, I really am spoiled. I realize that as a former educator, living on a former educator's salary, this statement might seem odd. However, I'm absolutely serious and this olive oil helps to prove my point.Enter Terra Creta Olive Oil. As we all know, olive oil was a gift to the Greeks, courtesy of the goddess Athena. It is olive oil that largely built the ancient Greek economy and thus promulgated Greek culture through the ancient world by means of economic exchange. That exchange was fostered by the highly prized olive oil that was acknowledged as the world's best.To this day, Greece is fiercely protective of the reputation of its olive oil--and rightly so. In its pure, unadulterated form, it is a glorious addition to your kitchen's staples, adding flavor, polish and nutrition to a wide array of dishes. Unfortunately, if you don't live in Greece--or in the EU--your olive oil is probably NOT unadulterated in some form. In the EU, Greek olive oil is protected by strict labeling and production laws so that the consumer can be assured of getting an authentic product, and thus an authentic experience. Here in the States, there are no such nation-wide laws, so the olive oil we get--even the extra virgin--is adulterated by other oils, or at least a pastiche of different regions, producers, etc., who are committed to driving down costs more than they are to producing excellent oils.The Terra Creta is an emphatic disavowal of this practice. It is an estate-produced oil created under exacting, heavily monitored conditions, with each can getting a unique label (see picture above), which functions as a birth certificate, more or less, so that you can practically trace the moment it was harvested.All of this effort reaps rewards for the consumer. This oil is a revelation compared to the pathetic stuff that you get at the average supermarket. It's vivid, earthy and fills the mouth with subtle notes that lean more towards the fruity end (at least in my experience; some have said it comes across as a bit more on the peppery side). In any case, it is truly excellent for dipping bread, making salad, making garlic butter, or anything that requires a moderate base note and delicate upper notes of olive flavor.As for the cost, you look at the price of the tin and think, "wow, that's a bit excessive." You'd be wrong. Look at how much you get and then figure a per-ounce cost vs. the "extra virgin" you get at the supermarket. Then, think about how what you eat becomes a part of you. Then, think about how short life is and how we should seize those beautiful pleasures that are within our reach while we can. Does it seem expensive now?

Hands down the best olive oil on the planet! It’s soo good, we flew to Crete to meet and tour their beautiful facility. must buy!

Excellent oil!,,

delicious and from a region that has exquisite EVO olive oil. i was recently on an eastern Med tour that did sample olive oils. this is one of the best. Luckily Amazon stocks it.

I was stationed on the island of Crete during my active duty time with the Navy and I actually visited this olive farm. Their extraction process produces a very high quality oil that is great for cooking, recipes, mixing in with smoothies, applying as a skin toner, etc. It is 100% pure, so it could taste a little strong to some folks who usually use light olive oil. It also might seem to be expensive, but when you compare it with other oils that might mixed with something else (not 100% pure) or ones of lower quality, it's really a great deal!

Very good.

Having been wowed by this olive oil in a restaurant, I took the chance to order it, despite the reviews saying the cans were dented. Indeed, the can WAS DENTED. The Amazon shipping box was perfect. The inner box from the seller was perfect. There were multiple layers of bubble wrap around the can, but the can itself was in bad shape. At least, as far as I could tell, there was no leak. The "Best By" date was acceptably far out: a YEAR and 8 months from delivery to me. The oil is a beautiful green-gold and tastes very good. It's not quite as "spicy" as I remember from the restaurant, but still quite good. I love the fact that it is from a single estate, and therefore not adulterated with other oils.There is a trick to opening the can. First pry up the outer half green rings, the pull straigt up to bring up the spout. Only then do you unscrew it. Easy to pour without making a mess like I did when I did not know to pull up the spout!

Yum!