Pamako early harvest extra virgin ultra premium Tsounati Monovarietal olive oil 500ml ORGANIC (NMR: Total 2081 mg/kg, Index D1 1582 mg/kg)

Pamako Premium Organic Monovarietal High Phenolic BIO (organic)

Pamako Monovarietal is an organic extra virgin olive oil made from 100% Tsounati olives – one of the oldest Cretan olive varieties, known for its intense flavour and above-average content of natural polyphenols. It is an Ultra High Phenolic olive oil, one of the healthiest and most advanced in terms of production technology.

Flavour profile

The oil is characterised by a fresh aroma of green leaves, artichoke and herbs. The taste is elegant, with a noble bitterness and a distinct spiciness – a natural effect of the very high content of bioactive polyphenols.

Watch the video.

Certification and health properties

Pamako was one of the first Greek oils to obtain the right to use the European health claim EU 432/2012 regarding the protection of blood lipids from oxidative stress. Every year, it wins awards for taste, quality and health parameters in international competitions.

The producer's path to perfection

Eftychis Androulakis spent many years preparing to create Pamako. He participated in tasting seminars in Italy and Greece, built his own bottling line, designed the packaging and warehouse, and then spent several years experimenting with extraction methods to achieve the highest quality oil before it hit the market.

Tsounati mountain groves – tradition and demanding work

The producer's family olive groves are located at an altitude of 500-700 metres above sea level in south-western Crete. Hundreds of years old trees grow there, reaching up to 14 metres in height. Harvesting is done by hand, very early in the season, after a half-hour walk along steep paths and climbing trees.

Eftychis emphasises that these trees have been protected for generations more than the homes of the inhabitants, becoming one of the pillars of the Cretan model of health and longevity associated with the Mediterranean diet.

The producer's philosophy

"They called me crazy, a tree destroyer, a fool – and now they call me asking what to do," says Androulakis.

He avoids constant, aggressive pruning, believing that natural growth allows the trees to produce higher amounts of phenols. The groves have not been sprayed for decades, and the entire crop is completely organic.

State-of-the-art extraction technology

After harvesting, a process begins that sets Pamako apart from the market:

• crushing only the best fruit, without stones,
• extraction temperature below 25°C,
• the process is carried out in an argon atmosphere, eliminating contact with oxygen,
• storage in steel tanks at a controlled temperature,
• protection from light and oxidation at every stage.

The average annual production is only about 3.5 tonnes, which proves the absolute focus on quality.

Bottling with argon

Bottling is carried out using professional stainless steel equipment. Dark glass is filled with oil after removing oxygen with argon, and then sealed with a natural Portuguese cork with a wooden finish. Labels made of potato paper are attached by hand with fishing line.

Cooperation with scientists and phenolic research

The producer collaborates with researchers from the University of Athens, regularly testing the polyphenol content and health profile of the oil. The results of the 2025 study confirm the exceptionally high values of the most important phenolic compounds.

2025 research results

1. Quality parameters – Multichrom.lab

• Acidity: 0.24%
• Peroxide value: 8.1 meq O₂/kg
• K232: 2.217
• K268: 0.213
• ΔΚ: –0.005
• Pesticides: none of the tested compounds detected
• MOSH/MOAH: low, in line with quality requirements

2. Phenolic NMR analysis

• Oleocanthal: 1,318 mg/kg
• Oleacein: 264 mg/kg
• D1 index (oleocanthal + oleacein): 1582 mg/kg
• Total polyphenols: 2081 mg/kg
• Polyphenols in 20 g of olive oil: 41.62 mg (above the EU requirement 432/2012 ≥ 5 mg)

Pamako and Biolea collaboration

In 2023, Eftychis Androulakis and Chloe Dimitriadis expanded their cooperation by creating a joint mill equipped with two parallel production lines: a traditional stone one and a modern steel one. The combination of two approaches – the classic method and the latest technological solutions – enables the production of oils with unique properties and the highest quality.

Summary

Pamako Monovarietal is a combination of manual, demanding harvesting, organic cultivation, modern polyphenol protection, rigorous testing and many years of work by the producer to perfect the process. It is one of the most prestigious and best-researched oils available in Europe – the choice of conscious consumers who are looking for oil of the highest quality in terms of health and taste.

Producer: Pamako