Origin & Quality Certificates

This high quality extra virgin olive oil is obtained from Koroneiki (70%), Tsounati (25%), and Asprolia (5%) olives cultivated in the Finiki area of Lakonia prefecture. This oil owes its unique organoleptic properties to the special microclimate of the area and its chalky soils. Its aroma is described as reminiscent of fresh cut grass and its taste is quite fruity and peppery. The olives are handpicked or gathered using rakes when the olives are ripe and yellowy green to violet in color. They are immediately transferred to olive mills where the oil is extracted through a mechanical cold pressing method. The final product is a greenish-yellow olive oil with some golden tones that can be consumed raw, used as a dressing for various Greek salads, or used for cooking.

Italy’s most emblematic culinary creation, the genuine pizza Napoletana is made with just a few simple ingredients and prepared in only two variations – marinara, the basic Neapolitan pizza topped with a tomato-based sauce flavored with garlic and oregano, and margherita, which is topped with tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh basil leaves, a delicious combination whose colors are said to represent the Italian flag. The crust is very thin at the base, and the dough puffs up on the sides, which results in airy crust that should have typical charred 'leopard spots' if baked properly. The origins of this iconic Neapolitan dish can be traced to the early 1700s, when what we know today as pizza marinara was first described by Italian chef, writer, and philosopher Vincenzo Corrado in his treatise on the eating habits of the people of Naples. Almost 200 years later, in 1889, the premier Neapolitan master pizzaiolo Raffaele Esposito added mozzarella to the mix and invented the margherita, which is now generally cited as the first modern pizza. Originally dubbed la pizza tricolore, Esposito’s creation is said to have been made in honor of and named after Margherita of Savoy, the Queen consort of the Kingdom of Italy, who was visiting Naples at the time. In 2010, as one of Italy’s most popular foods worldwide, pizza Napoletana was officially recognized by the European Union and granted the designation of Traditional Specialty Guaranteed. And remember, a good pizza Napoletana doesn't need any additions other than the designated toppings.

Brunello di Montalcino is a red Italian wine produced in the vineyards surrounding the town of Montalcino in the Tuscany wine region. Though it was initially considered to be made from a separate grape variety named Brunello, it was later discovered that the grape used in the production of the wine is in fact Sangiovese. Regarded as one of the most renowned Italian wines, Brunello di Montalcino was awarded the designation of origin (DOCG), and it is produced with 100% Sangiovese grapes. At first, it comes off as juicy and spicy, with notes of oregano and balsamic, and it may develop strong aromas of cherry and leather. The wine pairs well with red meat and rich, tomato-based dishes, and it usually sells at a lower price than the prestigious Barolo wines.

Podkarpacki miód spadziowy is honey that can be either in crystallized or liquid form, gathered and produced in 17 forest districts and in two national parks in Poland. The honeydew must be gathered from the European silver fir (Abies alba), spruce (Pinaceae Picea) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). This unique honey is dark brown with greenish hues to almost black in color and has a thick and viscous texture throughout. After the crystallization process, its texture becomes finely granular and the color gets lighter. The taste is delicately mild and sweet, with a spicy scent reminiscent of the needles of the fir and pine trees. Honey has been gathered in the region for a long time, and the skills of the local beekeepers in addition to the favorable soil and climate of the region produce this tasty honey, to be enjoyed on its own, in herbal teas or paired with a slice of fresh bread.

Miód wrzosowy z Borów Dolnośląskich is a unique heather honey gathered from the lower Silesia Forests in Poland. It is amber or tea-colored and has a thick, gelatinous texture. Its unique qualities are due to the area where the nectar is obtained - a flora of dense heaths and lush vegetation that has been preserved nearly intact, as it was home to military training sites until recently. The honey has a high concentration of heather pollen and crystallizes easily into medium-sized granules. The scent is intense and strong-smelling while the taste is slightly bitter, sweet and sharp. It is the most famous honey of the Dolnoslaskie Voivodship and is usually eaten on its own, with fresh bread, or presented as a unique gift from the region.

Nošovické kysané zelí is a fermented cabbage product (sauerkraut) made in the municipalities of Nošovice and Nižní Lhoty in Moravskoslezsko region in the Czech Republic. Sauerkraut is made in the region for a long, long time, and the Nošovice coat of arms even has a cabbage-cutter symbol on it. White cabbage is grown beneath a huge mountain range called Beskids, with moderately cold and damp climate, lots of rain and clay soils with a low pH, all of which favourably influence the cabbage growing and give it its distinctive flavour, colour and firm texture. The cabbage is finely chopped and undergoes a process of lactic fermentation so that it becomes sauerkraut. The finished product is golden yellow in colour and has an acidic to a slightly bitter flavour. During the process, salt, caraway and mustard seeds are used to enhance the flavours. Pair it with sausages, meatballs or asparagus for a hearty, healthy dish.

Considered to be among the world's top quality cheeses, Parmigiano Reggiano is made with raw, semi-skimmed milk from cows grazing on fresh grass and hay. It has a hard, gritty texture and its flavors range from nutty to robust and slightly piquant, depending on how long the cheese had matured. The origins of Parmigiano Reggiano date back to the Middle Ages, when the Benedictine and Cistercian monks reclaimed the Po Valley wetlands and started producing this much-prized cheese. Since it originated and was mainly produced in the two city-states Parma and Reggio Emilia, the cheese was named Parmigiano Reggiano, meaning "a cheese from Parma and Reggio Emilia." The cheese got its name in the 19th century, and the word order is speculated to be purely due to alphabetical order. Today, the cheese goes by the unofficial Parmigiano, which is because Parma started promoting this cheese as coming from Parma when it became the capital of the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza in the 16th century. Today, it is produced in the provinces of Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena and Bologna in Emilia-Romagna, as well as in the Lombardian province of Mantua. Parmigiano is available in following varieties: Mezzano (2nd selection, aged for 12-15 months), Parmigiano Reggiano (aged for 12-24 months or longer) and Parmigiano Reggiano Extra, which needs to pass an additional quality assessment test after 18 months of aging. This particularly versatile cheese is one of the essential ingredients used in a number of classic Italian dishes; it is ideal for grating over pasta, minestrone and consommé, but it can also be enjoyed as a table cheese, typically served with crudités, salads and fresh fruit or nuts.

This olive oil is closely linked to the history, traditions and culture of the region of Messinia and the southwestern part of the Peloponnese where the oil is produced. Olive oil production is the main occupation of Messinia's inhabitants at the end of the year and a key factor in the regional economy. This extra virgin olive oil is produced mainly from Koroneiki olives, with a maximum of 5% of Mastoeidis olives. The final product has an intense green to yellowish-green color and a pleasant taste. This oil is slightly bitter and has an aroma of green fruit and a mild pungency.

This is by far the most famous Greek pistachio. This amazing pistachio nut is produced from the Egintiki variety, which has been traditionally cultivated on the island of Egina since the end of the 19th century. The first pistachio plantation here was established in 1896 by Nikolaos Peroglou, who brought the nuts from Syria. The weather conditions and the soil composition give these pistachios a recognizable aroma and taste for which they are considered among the best in the world. The harvesting season begins in August, when the nuts are collected with long wrapped sticks that are used to beat the branches without damaging the tree. After the best nuts are manually selected, they are taken to the hulling machines as quickly as possible. They are then sun-dried for at least three days to prevent their shells from turning black. In the last weeks of September, after the pistachio harvest, the 'Fistiki Festival' is held in the region. This celebration is enjoyed by locals and thousands of visitors, during which many pistachio-based recipes are presented. This pistachio goes great in fresh salads, alongside cured meats, and in a variety of sweets, mandolata, cakes, liqueurs, and more.

This extra virgin olive oil is made in a small, hilly area in the southern part of mainland Greece in Olympia province. It is produced from two varieties of olives, 90% Koroneiki and 10% Kollyreiki, which are blended into a light yellow-green oil. After the harvest, the best olives are selected and cold pressed in traditional or centrifugal mills in order to keep their flavor intact. This olive oil has the aroma of ripe olives with a fruity flavor and thick viscosity. The spicy and a slightly bitter profile of this oil is well suited to use with meat, seafood, or salads.

Pimentón de la Vera is the smoked paprika that has been produced exclusively in the La Vera valley, in the province of Cáceres since the 16th century. This vibrant red spice is made by grinding dried peppers into a fragrant, spicy, smoky powder. It became popular in the 16th century when the Spanish conquistadors brought the peppers back from Mexico as a gift for the king and queen of Spain. In autumn, after harvesting, the finest peppers are hanged on strings and are left to dry. They are then smoked using oak wood for two weeks, thus intensifying both their flavor and color. There are three types of Pimentón de la Vera; dulce, agridulce and picante, or sweet, medium and hot, respectively. The sweet variety is mostly used with light meats, such as octopus, rabbit or chicken. On the other hand, the hot variety is used in heartier winter soups and stews, or in the production of chorizo sausages.

Merquén or merkén is a Chilean spice made with a long, pointed chili pepper called aji, caciocavra, cacho de cabra, or goat’s horn pepper as the key ingredient. The peppers are grown throughout the Araucanía region and are picked in February, when they turn from green to red. They are then dried in the sun until they develop a violet color. The dried peppers are smoked, then hung from ceilings over a wood fire. After the second drying in the sun, these peppers are ground in a stone mortar or in an automatic grinder. The powder is combined with smoked coriander seeds and sea salt, and the spice blend should contain at least 70% of the powder and no more than 20% salt. The spice blend accentuates the rich and earthy flavor of the peppers, and it is generally more smoky and flavorful than spicy and hot. Coming from the gastronomy of the Mapuche indigenous people, merkén is used as a spice rub for meat, sprinkled on pizza, mixed into pebre salsa, or used in mani merkén, a snack of roasted peanuts seasoned with merkén. For a traditional Chilean side dish, it is recommended to try puré picante – mashed potatoes seasoned with this unique spice blend. Nowadays, the use of merkén is slowly declining because it is often considered a symbol of poverty in the country. However, the spice has turned up as a twist on the traditional Chilean aperitif known as pisco sour, where merkén is lightly sprinkled on top of the cocktail glass.