Dear Kosterina Family,
We are focused on bringing you only ultra high quality EVOO and Mediterranean products. Do you know what differentiates Kosterina from the sea of olive oils you see at the grocery store? We pride ourselves on offering only ultra-high polyphenol, organically-farmed Koroneiki EVOO that tastes incredible and adds depth of flavor to anything. Kosterina stands for health and joy and we feel that EVOO and the Mediterranean diet are the perfect vehicles to help deliver both.
We perform chemical testing (and food safety testing) on every single batch of EVOO we harvest and source in Greece; here, we want to take you through some of the science of polyphenol content. As a reminder, polyphenols are the powerful antioxidants that occur naturally in early harvest EVOO. These polyphenols have been proven by hundreds of studies to reduce the risk of chronic disease and also offer a myriad of other health benefits.
We are proud to share our third-party 2023 Harvest Chemical Analysis. It is our goal to be as transparent as possible, giving you everything you need to make the most well-informed decisions on your wellness journey.
- At the top we have our testing date and harvest location (please note the dates are shown in the European format!). We always harvest our olives at the perfect time in the season to maximize polyphenol content.
- As always, our Olives come from Southern Greece, using the Koroneiki Olive which is naturally high in polyphenols. These offer a plethora of health benefits and beautifully-complex flavors.
- Our Harvest period is October to December of each year. We then bottle it here in the US and offer it to you by February of each year. So the ‘Fall 2023 Harvest’ is the freshest, most recent harvest.
- Each of the lines that you see under “chemical analysis” are different phenolic compounds. We are proud to say that at 638 mg/kg in total polyphenol content, our olive oil falls high above the industry average.
- Oleocanthal and oleacein have been studied extensively and shown to have anti-inflammatory benefits. Our analysis also notes that our oleocanthal levels are 256% higher compared to the average and oleacein clocked in at 123% higher. Other derivatives analyzed, such as Oleuropein & Ligstroside (antineoplastic) that also contribute to the health benefits of EVOO, remain above average.
So what does this mean? Each of these derivatives are responsible for the natural anti-inflammatory effect that olive oil has on the body, as well as the other health benefits such as improved cardiovascular health, lowered blood pressure, and more. We’ve attempted to round up some of the most prominent EVOO studies here but there are truly too many!
At Kosterina, we believe that living a healthy & whole lifestyle does not mean sacrificing delicious flavor and enjoyment. We are proud that our Extra Virgin Olive Oil consistently comes out on top for taste & health, and we are so grateful to you, our community, for choosing us on your journey for longevity.
Peace, Love, and EVOO,
Katina & The Kosterina Team
