Food Notes > Olive Oil

From Kythera Island a superb organic olive oil

In the South-East of the Mediterranean sea born an extra virgin from Koroneiki variety, grow at an altitude of 10 to 140m above sea level, extracted by crushing the fruit at low temperatures

by Graziano Alderighi

According to various historical sources, it appears that the worship of the goddess of love, Ishtar, had its origin in Ancient Phoenicia. Due to the strong commercial relations and the resulting political affiliations developing amongst the various Mediterranean cultures the worship of the Phoenicians’ Astarti (Ishtar) gradually moved to the Southern coast and certain islands of the South-East Mediterranean basin (Cyprus, Crete, Kythera, Mylos), each place adapting similar names and rituals.

Kythera worshipped the Goddess as Astarti-Aphrodite (Aphrodite meaning she who has arisen from the froth of the seas) but with the passing of time the name of Aphrodite was upheld and she was worshipped as Goddess of platonic love.

Astarti is based on the island of Kythera-Greece and has been involved in organic farming since 1992 when Harry Tzortzopoulos, on completion of his studies in agriculture, returned to his forefathers’ island to take over the family olive groves. Since Astarti’s establishment in 2001, the company has been involved in the production, packaging and trading of organic and traditional Kytherian products.
Their olive trees are of the Koroneiki variety and grow at an altitude of 10 to 140m above sea level.

Astarti Exclusive – Limited production
At the oil processing factory, Astarti Exclusive is extracted by crushing the fruit at low temperatures (cold pressed) so as to avoid scorching the olive oil which would result in biochemical changes and loss of nutritional value.
All stages of production, from cultivation through to processing and bottling is certified by DIO (Greek Certification & Inspection Organisation of Organic Products) subject to Regulation EC834/2007 for organic agriculture.

Description: light to medium fruity. Its aroma is elegant and unusual, its taste is complex and fine with a definite bitterness and balanced pungency.

Matches:
Seafood, white meat, steamed vegetables and fresh salads.

Estate, produced and bottled by:
Astarti
Karavas, Kythera, 80200 - Greece
www.tzortzopoulos-estate.gr

by Graziano Alderighi
05 April 2010 Teatro Naturale International n. 4 Year 2

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