The History of Olive Oil in Lesvos
Olive oil production in Lesvos is dated as early as 2800-2000 B.C.
A VISITOR'S FIRST IMPRESSION OF LESVOS IS THAT OF A VAST SEA OF OLIVE OIL TREES.
The Greek island of Lesvos (the ancient Lesvos), whose capital is the town of Mytilene, lies at the edge of Greece and Europe’s geopolitical borders, a mere five nautical miles from the shores of Turkey. It is a border but also a portal between two countries, two continents and two civilizations. It has stood the test of time due to the age-long relationship of man and olive tree.
OLIVE OIL PRODUCTION IN LESVOS IS DATED AS EARLY AS 2800-2000 B.C.
A primitive Bronze Age oil press was found in Lesvos, dating olive oil production to 2800-2000 B.C. From the 8th century B.C., there was a boom in commerce, and the cultivation of the olive tree spread to the rest of Greece. Greeks worshipped the tree’s gifts: its branches crowned the winners of the Olympic games and olive oil was the prize of the Panathinea Games.
THE TECHNIQUES AND MEANS FOR PRESSING THE OLIVE HAVE REMAINED VIRTUALLY UNCHANGED THROUGH THE AGES.
Oil and wine were considered “civilized” foods, made by man, fit for athletes, Kings & Gods. The Symposiums, that is, the gathering of people to eat, drink, have conversation and enjoy themselves together, regulated by dietary, religious and traditional rules, were essentially the transcendence from basic needs to civilization and culture.
In the beginning wine was the most celebrated product, but eventually olive oil caught up. Olive tree leaves were depicted on Mytilene coins, olive groves were organized as real estates and more oil mills were built. They crushed the olive fruit in between round, heavy, moving millstones, rotating on a fixed axis, in order to extract the first (extra virgin) olive oil, and finally pressed the olive itself for further oil and pulp production.
Since the 11th century Lesvos had attracted the attention of the Italian merchants who had gained privileges with the 1261 Treaty. In 1355 the Genoese nobleman and merchant Francesco Gattelusi received the emperor’s sister in marriage and the whole island of Lesvos as dowry. For the next 100 years the island economy flourished and the foundations of today’s olive groves were laid. The Gattelusi family saw great commercial progress and they encouraged the cultivation of the olive tree.
Even the Great Frost of 1850, which destroyed almost all of Lesvos’ olive groves, could not stop people cultivating their groves. New, more resilient to cold varieties were brought in, Kolovi & Adramytiani. Farmers carried soil up the mountains on their backs, stone-masons were called in to help, by building terraces on the mountain sides to hold the soil and the young olive groves grew to be 10 times bigger and richer than the old ones, reaching a total of 450,000 km2 of olive tree coverage.
A FLOURISHING TRADE ECONOMY DUE TO OLIVE OIL
Lesvos economy went from strength to strength, with social, political and cultural activities buzzing everyday life. Industrial growth with steam-powered oil mills only made the olive crushing faster, but did not alter in any way the pressing method, i.e. in between two millstones. Olive oil & olive soap from Lesvos increased their sales five-fold from 1850-1910, with exports to France, Great Britain, Constantinople and Russia.
Olive Oil originating from Lesvos has officially received the Protected Geographical Indication status from the European Union.
The meaning and aim of extending the Protected Geographical Indication status could find no better application than in Lesvos. Indeed, Lesvos’ Virgin Olive Oil has officially received the status of Protected Geographical Indication, under E.U. regulation 1107/96. The particular quality of Lesvos’ Virgin Olive Oil is determined by the weather conditions, the grade of soil, the climate, and the olive tree varieties as well as by the human factor. People that taste extra virgin olive oil from Lesvos are surprised by its unique, full taste, that cannot be found in other olive oils.
Odysseas Elytis
Greek Writer
1979 Nobel of Literature
"If you break down Greece,
you will be left in the end with an olive tree, a vine and a boat.
Which means: with as much you can put it together again."
"Εάν αποσυνθέσεις την Ελλάδα,
στο τέλος θα δεις να σου απομένουν μια ελιά, ένα αμπέλι κι ένα καράβι.
Που σημαίνει: με άλλα τόσα την ξαναφτιάχνεις."