(Εξαιρετικό Παρθένο Ελαιόλαδο Σέλινο Κρήτης)
The province of Selinos, where this oil is made, is located in Hania prefecture on the island of Crete, the largest and most populous Greek Mediterranean island. Exeretiko Partheno Eleolado Selino Kritis (also known as simply 'Selinou') is an extra virgin olive oil derived from Tsounati (at least 60%) and Koroneiki olives (40% at most).
These two varieties of olives differ in their harvesting times – Koroneiki is harvested from November to December while Tsounati is harvested from December to January. The criteria used to determine the degree of ripeness of the olive is the color of its skin – it is considered ripe when it has fully changed from greenish yellow to dark purple, and at least half of its flesh is a dark violet color.
The olives are harvested using either threshing devices or are gathered once they have fallen spontaneously onto nets on the ground surrounding the tree. The fruity aroma of this oil is increased due to the low organic content of the soil the trees grow in.
The slightly bitter, piquant taste of this oil is attributed to the small addition of the Koroneiki variety during production, and the increased concentration of chlorophyll in the olives gives it a a bright to dark green color.
