Yes, you’ve read it correctly. “Critida” olive oil from family-owned groves, produced mainly in Heraklion area of Crete in Greece, flavoured with natural extract of chocolate. This unique olive oil is a powerful antioxidant. No added dye, preservatives or GMOs to be found either. Infused olive oils make really great and beautiful gifts for the food lovers in your life! They are also great to have on hand in your own kitchen for your own cooking adventures. The flavor possibilities are endless and it is truly a fun and unique gift.

The post Critida – Chocoholics unite! appeared first on The Fine Food Magazine .

According to the lastest available data, global spirulina market is expected to reach USD 238.3 million by 2022, at an average growth rate of 7.1% during the forecast period of 2017 to 2022. This strong growth pattern in recent years is majorly due to growing demand for natural food colours, increasing vegetarianism, stringent regulations regarding the inclusion of synthetic colours and flavours, and growing malnutrition across parts of the globe.

Impressive though the numbers may be for what is essentially a blue-green algae coming from the natural phytoplankton of (sub)tropical alkaline lakes, most impressive is the nutritional value and health benefits of a product truly worthy of the title “superfood”.

Fountain of life

Spirulina is a microalga, i.e. not visible to the naked eye but only under a microscope, with a long recorded history of its use as wholesome nutrition by local populations across the globe. Its name derives from its shape which is usually spiral. It is a primordial organism which appeared on Earth about 3.5 billion years ago and belongs to a group of microorganisms, algae, thanks to the photosynthesis of which the Earth’s atmosphere was created and, as a result, the emergence of life on the planet was made possible.

Composition

Spirulina contains in large quantities a non-animal, complete protein of the best quality, rich in essential aminoacids. It is also rich in vitamins, minerals, essential fats, antioxidants and active polysaccharides, making it an excellent choise of nutrition. The scientific bibliography provides strong evidence for its role as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and immuno-regulatory substance. The combination of so many nutrients is what makes spirulina a superfood.

100% Greek

As with every major consumer trend, when there is great profit to be made, products appear on the market making commitments they do not deliver upon. The answer to such claims is an all-natural spirulina product made in one of the most pristine regions of the planet, the Greek island of Crete.

“Cretan Spirulina” is available in its authentic form, that of flakes, without having undergone any processing or addition of other substances. Its drying is performed 100% naturally in the bright Greek sun and, most importantly, on the same day of collection giving it a crispy, pleasant taste and odour.

The post Cretan Spirulina – Authentic superfood appeared first on The Fine Food Magazine .

“Cretan Power Flakes Spirulina”, on the contrary, is 100% natural and of high nutritional value, while its colour is bright green with shades of blue due to the natural substance phycocyanin. The product is crispy, similar in taste to sunflower seeds and can be mixed with a number of food and beverages. An organic, gluten-free product, it is justifiably food for athletes and vegans/vegetarians.

The post Cretan Spirulina – Power Flakes From Crete appeared first on The Fine Food Magazine .

It was Hippocrates, the Greek father of medicine, that wrote: “Honey and pollen cause warmth, clean sores and ulcers, soften hard ulcers of lips, heal carbuncles and running sores.” And philosopher Aristotle believed that “white honey (…) is good as a salve for soar eyes and wounds.”

The post Fragiadakis – Cretan Thyme Honey appeared first on The Fine Food Magazine .

Naturally packed with monounsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants, not only can a good extra virgin olive oil lower your risk of heart disease and cancer, research has shown that it also provides a wide range of anti-inflammatory benefits that can positively impact illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, and asthma. In addition, the physical properties of olive oil make it the most suitable edible oil, easily absorbed by the body, with beneficial effects on the stomach.

Medicine for longevity

Modern scientific research has now proven its beneficial properties, rediscovering what Hippocrates, the father of medicine, and other doctors in ancient Greece had found out by using olive oil as treatment for their patients.

It has been documented that low percentage of deaths from heart disease among the inhabitants of rural areas in the Greek island of Crete can be attributed to the high level of olive oil consumption, in contrast to other countries whose residents consume seed/vegetable oils and animal fats. It was in Crete, after all, that the first cultivation of olive trees in history took place circa 3500 BC during what is now called by archaeologists the early Minoan times.

Cretan gift

More than 200,000 tons of olive oil and 10,000 tons of organic olive oil are produced in Crete per year, in ever-increasing quantities. Most of the local producers are family-run businesses, with lifelong experience and knowledge in olive oil production. That is also the case with “Critida” company established in Heraklion of Crete back in 1998, in order to standardize and trade in locally produced olive oil.

It specializes in two categories of olive oil: extra virgin and biological. It also produces and trades olive paste, olives and delicatessen products, which combine extra virgin olive oil with traditional Cretan herbs, such as thyme, rosemary, garlic and paprika flavor. All of the company’s products are quality tested by highly qualified personnel, in accordance with international and European standards.

“Critida” products have already earned a good name for themselves, as they are being exported to 32 countries worldwide, with USA, Canada and Germany standing out as their top 3 markets. It is no wonder then that they have won 28 national and international awards.

The post Critida – The science of oliviculture appeared first on The Fine Food Magazine .