Description
The Thassos PGI is a virgin olive oil obtained from olives of the variety Thasitiki.
Production Area
The production area of the virgin olive oil Thassos PGI is within the administrative boundaries of the island of Thassos, in Cavala prefecture, in the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace region.
Production Method
The olives are traditionally picked by hand with the use of specific combs. The olive gathering starts in the month of November and finishes short before Christmas time. After possible residues have been eliminated, the olives are taken to the oil mill for pressing inside plastic baskets or natural bags holding 30 kg or 50 kg. The olive pressing takes place in classic or centrifuging oil mills that guarantee the best processing conditions at a low temperature, which never surpasses 30°C. The processing of the olives takes place within three days after the gathering. The fight against the olive fly, its main enemy, is done with attractive substances sprayed from the soil, using biologic methods without any treatment.
Appearance and Flavour
The virgin olive oil Thassos PGI has a golden yellow colour, a flavour and aroma that recall ripe olives.
History
The history of the virgin olive oil Thassos PGI is linked to the long-standing tradition of the olive tree culture in Greece, which is evidenced in historical sources and archaeological finds, giving this cultivation ancient origins.
Gastronomy
The virgin olive oil is an easily perishable food that needs correct preservation in order to maintain its organoleptic characteristics intact. It is thus advisable to keep it in a cool place and away from light, at a temperature between 14°C and 18°C, away from heat sources and from products that give off particular smells. It is recommendable to consume it within four to six months after the pressing, to enjoy it in the period of highest expression of its taste. The virgin olive oil Thassos PGI is an essential ingredient in the Mediterranean diet.
Marketing
The product is sold as Thassos PGI. It is marketed in dark or transparent glass bottles holding 500 ml, 750 ml, and 1 l, and in metal tins of 3 l and 5 l.
Distinctive Features
On the island of Thassos, the population still cultivates olive trees today like in the past. The variety Throumba or Thassitiki is particularly suitable for the production of olives and Thassos PGI olive oil, and was brought to Thassos more than 4,000 years ago by the Phoenicians. Since then, the olive trees have a special meaning for the local culture and economy.
