When it comes to choosing a truly exceptional olive oil, packaging and buzzwords can be deceiving. “Cold-pressed,” “organic,” and even “single origin” are often used loosely — but do they really guarantee quality? Here’s a quick quiz to help you tell the difference between good marketing and real excellence:
1️⃣ Is your olive oil single origin?
If it’s not, you can’t count on consistent quality — blending oils from multiple regions or producers dilutes both flavor and authenticity.
2️⃣ If it is single origin, is it traceable?
Many producers now claim “single origin,” but without traceability, the claim means little. True single-origin oils come with a clear story — where they’re grown, harvested, and milled.
3️⃣ Even if it’s traceable, are the grove and the mill under one ownership?
If not, the olives might come from multiple farms, each with different cultivation standards. Even if a seller provides lab results, they may reflect only a small fraction of the oil in your bottle.
At Laurel & Flame and OLYMYTHOS, the answer is “yes” to all three.
The olive groves and the mill belong to one family — the Karabelas family — whose dedication to purity and excellence has spanned generations. Visitors can see it firsthand: from the care of the olive trees to the precise milling process at the family’s own Olive Temple near Ancient Olympia.
Every drop reflects not just the fruit of the land, but the family’s deep love and respect for it.
