The most famous olive in the world, medium sized!
Crispy, fleshy and with a taste that justifies its reputation. We add it in our salad, pizzas and pasta or enjoy it as a quick snack. This olive is everyone's favourite with with their light spicy and sour taste!
Kalamata olives are rich in antioxidants and healthy fats and have been linked to multiple health benefits, including protection against heart disease. Around 75% of their fat is heart-healthy monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), namely oleic acid — the most commonly consumed MUFA, which may help prevent heart disease and support cancer treatment.Additionally, kalamata olives are a good source of minerals like iron, calcium, and copper, which may reduce your risk of anemia, strengthen your bones, and improve heart function, respectively. They also provide the fat-soluble vitamins A and E. Vitamin A is essential for maintaining healthy vision, while vitamin E is a potent antioxidant that may improve heart health.
Extra tip: They are easily transported even on long journeys
• either in a well-secured container
• or in bags sealed with vacuum
HISTORY "FROM GOLD" BEHIND THE PRODUCT
The olive tree of Kalamata has been declared in a "Preserved Monument of Nature" in an effort of the Greek state to recognize its special importance as an element of our heritage.The main aim was to highlight the key position that monumental olive trees and their materialistic and symbolic manifestations consist a natural and cultural heritage as weII.
Historically, olive cultivation is estimated to have started 7,000 years ago. The researches found olive fossils in the Greek area with the impressive age of 50,000 - 60,000 years. According to Greek mythology, the olive tree of the Acropolis was planted by the Goddess Athena herself and is part of the founding myth of Athens. Legend has it that Athena and Poseidon argued over the control of Athens, and so Zeus proposed a contest between them, deeming that city would be a prize to the winner. Poseidon went first and raised his trident, smashing it on a rock of the Acropolis, thus, producing salt water. Athena went second and offered an olive tree, a gift the citizens of Athens deemed useful and beautiful; therefore, she became the patron of the city, which was named after her.
Regarding the Kalamata olives in particular, palynological data reveal that intensive cultivation of olive trees took place in Messinia during the Mycenaean period (1600-1100 BC). Even older finds of olive stones (pits) date back to almost a millennium earlier, in the period of Minoan Crete.
The Kalamata olive belongs to the Oleaceae family and its botanical name is Olea europaea. One of the characteristics of the species of the genus Olea sp. is their longevity that can exceed over 100 years. In fact, the productivity of these trees does not stop or decrease over the years. It is considered as the ''mother'' of the olive and is also called ''Aetonychia'' of Kalamon. How else since the elongated shape of her oval pit looks like an eagle claw ??
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