Physis of Crete Korona Premium Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil 500ml (NMR: Total 1477 mg/kg, D1 Index 396 mg/kg)

Physis of Crete Korona — ultra-premium extra virgin olive oil from Crete, early harvest, high polyphenol content

Physis of Crete Korona is the ultra-premium extra virgin line from the same producer as the mild 0.2 olive oil — crafted for consumers who want an olive oil with a high polyphenol content, an intense sensory profile and documented health properties. Korona is an early harvest oil, pressed from 100% Koroneiki olives grown in the mountain groves of the Kritsa region — above 350 metres above sea level.

The Korona line is available in two variants: Korona Premium — conventional — and Korona Premium Organic (BIO) — certified organic, grown without pesticides or synthetic fertilisers. The organic variant shows an even higher polyphenol level than the conventional one, confirmed by the annual NMR analysis. Both variants are available in our shop in 500 ml (Premium and Organic), 750 ml (Organic) and bag-in-box 3 L (Organic) — for those who appreciate this oil and use it regularly.

Authorised Distributor of Physis of Crete in Poland

kreta24.pl is the authorised distributor of the Physis of Crete brand on the Polish market. Every bottle from our distribution carries Polish labels with the kreta24.pl logo, full ingredient listing, origin, best-before date and importer details — in compliance with Polish and EU food labelling regulations. When you buy Korona from us, you receive a guaranteed authentic product sourced directly from the producer, with fresh deliveries from the current harvest season and proper storage conditions in our warehouse.

Why Korona is exceptional — 10 kg of olives per litre

Producing one litre of Korona requires up to 10 kg of olives — four times more than in typical industrial production, where 3.5–5 kg of ripe fruit is sufficient per litre. The reason lies in the harvest: the olives are picked exclusively in the first and second week of November — a two-week window when the fruit is still unripe, firm and rich in polyphenols. An unripe olive contains far less fat than a ripe one, which lowers pressing yield — but the concentration of bioactive compounds is incomparably higher.

Olives are picked by hand and pressed on the same day they are harvested. This is absolutely critical: every hour of delay between harvest and pressing raises acidity and degrades the phenolic profile. Physis of Crete has eliminated this variable entirely.

Polyphenols and the EU 432/2012 health claim

Korona stands out for its high content of polyphenols — in particular oleocanthal and oleacein, compounds with scientifically documented anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cardioprotective and neuroprotective properties. Their levels in Korona — confirmed annually by an NMR certificate issued by the World Olive Center for Health at the University of Athens — significantly exceed the average values of international comparative studies.

Korona meets the requirements of EU Regulation 432/2012, which permits the health claim: "Olive oil polyphenols contribute to the protection of blood lipids from oxidative stress" — provided the oil delivers at least 5 mg of hydroxytyrosol and its derivatives per 20 g serving. Korona exceeds this threshold by a very wide margin, confirmed by the annual NMR certificate attached to this product as a PDF file.

It is worth noting that olive oil acidity cannot be assessed by taste, smell or appearance — it is the quantity of free fatty acids, measurable only in a chemical laboratory. Low acidity indicates production quality, but it is the phenolic profile that defines the true value of a premium olive oil.

Flavour profile — intense, vibrant, expressive

Korona is an oil with intense green fruitiness, pronounced bitterness and strong pungency — including the characteristic "peppery finish", the natural throat sensation that signals a high oleocanthal content. This is a profile for connoisseurs for whom olive oil is an equal ingredient in the dish, not merely a background fat. The Organic variant shows an even more intense sensory profile, directly reflecting its higher polyphenol concentration.

If you prefer an olive oil with a milder, more balanced profile — without strong bitterness and pungency — explore Physis of Crete 0.2, the mild culinary-salad version from the same producer.

Kitchen use

Korona expresses its character best raw or at low temperatures — high heat destroys the bioactive compounds that make it exceptional. This is a finishing oil, not a frying oil.

• Salads — Greek salad with feta and olives, rocket salads, tomato-cucumber, grilled vegetable; the oil brings depth and an expressive character.
• Fish and seafood — grilled sea bream, salmon, prawns, squid; the assertive pungency of Korona contrasts beautifully with the delicate flesh of fish.
• Bread and bruschetta — an outstanding dip for fresh bread, base for bruschetta with tomatoes and basil; the intense profile reveals its full potential in the simplest application.
• Roasted and grilled vegetables — peppers, aubergine, courgette; add the oil after roasting, not before.
• Pasta and risotto — raw, added at the end of cooking; highlights creamy texture and brings intense Mediterranean character.
• Marinades and dressings — base for meat and fish marinades, dressings for bitter leaves (lamb's lettuce, rocket, chicory).

Origin — Kritsa, one of the oldest villages in Crete

The producer's family comes from Kritsa — a mountain village at approximately 375 metres above sea level, less than 10 km from Agios Nikolaos. Kritsa is one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in Greece, with a history reaching back to Minoan times, surrounded by ancient olive groves growing on stone terraces. The village is known for the Church of Panagia Kera from the 13th–14th century, with some of the finest Byzantine frescoes in Crete — one of the most visited sites in eastern Crete.

The high-altitude position of the Physis of Crete groves (above 350 m) combined with the cooler mountain microclimate slows olive ripening and promotes polyphenol accumulation — one of the key reasons for the exceptionally high oleocanthal and oleacein levels in Korona.

Modern facility at the "Olive Oil Park" — free educational tour

The producer runs a modern bottling facility for olive oil, olive paste and table olives covering 1,200 m², on the road from Agios Nikolaos to Kritsa. The facility operates as the "OLIVE OIL PARK by Physis of Crete" — an educational attraction open to visitors. The Free Olive Tour covers the entire production process, from harvest through stone mills and modern centrifugal decanters to bottling and labelling, and concludes with an olive oil and regional product tasting.

Awards and distinctions

Physis of Crete has won international awards every year since 2018 at prestigious olive oil quality competitions. The Korona Organic line was distinguished with gold medals at two of the most important competitions of the 2025/2026 season:

• Gold Medal — Athena International Olive Oil Competition 2026 (Korona Organic)
• Gold Medal — London International Olive Oil Competition (LIOOC) 2026 (Korona Organic Farming)
• Gold Medal — Cretan Olive Oil Competition (COOC)
• Bronze Medal (Elea Award) — Cretan Olive Oil Competition (COOC)
• The Best of Lasithi
• Honourable Mentions — New York International Olive Oil Competition (NYIOOC)

Full awards list available on the producer's official website.

Why choose Physis of Crete Korona?

• Early harvest, 10 kg of olives per litre — parameters impossible to achieve in mass production.
• High polyphenol content — oleocanthal and oleacein at concentrations confirmed by NMR certificate.
• EU 432/2012 health claim — exceeded by a very wide margin.
• Same-day pressing — guarantee of freshness and maximum quality for every batch.
• Organic variant (BIO) — even higher polyphenol concentration, grown without pesticides.
• International awards — including two gold medals in the 2025/2026 season.
• Authorised distributor — authentic product, Polish labels, fresh deliveries direct from the producer.
• Availability — 500 ml (Premium and Organic), 750 ml (Organic), bag-in-box 3 L (Organic).

Producer: Physis of Crete | Agios Nikolaos, Kritsa, Lasithi, Crete, Greece
Distributor in Poland: kreta24.pl — authorised brand distributor