Our island, our origin
Rooted in
Lesbos.
An island of olive trees, sea air and a tradition passed down through generations.
An island with character
The olive tree
belongs to Lesbos.
For generations, olive trees have shaped the rhythm and scenery of Lesbos. They grow across hills and valleys, their silvery leaves catching the light and their trunks carrying the story of many harvests. Sunshine, sea air and varied terrain give every grove its own character.
Here, the olive is more than an agricultural crop: it connects families, villages and seasons. During harvest, the fruit is carefully gathered and its aroma and flavour are preserved in olive oil. That is how the character of Lesbos finds its way to the table.
For us, origin is not just a label. It is the connection between the island, the olive and the people who make the oil with care.
Kolovi: the flavour
of Lesbos.
Kolovi is an olive variety closely connected to Lesbos and the island’s olive-growing culture. It grows in groves that are part of the landscape and local farming tradition. Its harvest is the foundation for an olive oil with a distinctive character.
Irina Extra Virgin is made from 100% Kolovi olives. Its flavour combines gentle fruitiness with fresh green notes of cut grass, green almonds and artichoke. A lively, elegant oil for bread, vegetables, salads and warm dishes.
With Irina, we want to share that sense of place: not just the flavour of an olive, but also the island and tradition it comes from.
Thousands of years
of olives on Lesbos.
Olive growing on Lesbos dates back a very long time. Near Thermi, archaeologists found remains of a simple Bronze Age olive press, dated to around 2800 to 2000 BC. Mytilene later grew into a centre of trade and culture, while the olive tree became an ever more familiar part of the landscape and daily life. Millstones and pressing methods changed over the centuries, but the principle remained: crush and press the olives to release their juice, the olive oil.
Read more about the history
The olive was important beyond farming. In antiquity, olive branches appeared on coins from Mytilene, and olive oil and olive branches played a role in Greek games and ceremonies. The poet Sappho, who came from Lesbos, also celebrated the island's natural beauty in her work.
Traditional processing had two stages: first, millstones crushed the olives; then the pulp was pressed. The techniques evolved over time. The history of olive oil is also a story of craftsmanship, agriculture and the landscape of Lesbos.
1863
Catsacoulis S.A.
More than 160 years
of olive oil heritage.
Catsacoulis S.A. has been making olive oil on Lesbos since 1863. With Irina, we bring this heritage to the Netherlands, respecting the origin and distinctive flavour of the Kolovi olive.
A little island
at your table.
Elaia Lesbos is the Dutch partner and importer of Catsacoulis S.A. We want to make exceptional olive oil from Lesbos accessible to people who value origin, flavour and craftsmanship.
Our story begins with one distinctive product: Irina Extra Virgin, made from 100% Kolovi olives. An invitation to cook with care and enjoy food together.