Millstones – Preserving Tradition

The traditional method of producing olive oil using millstones has been a practice for many centuries in the Mediterranean region. It involves crushing the olives between two large granite stones to extract the oil.

The process begins with washing and sorting the olives to ensure that any leaves or debris are removed. The olives are then fed into the millstone, where they are crushed into a paste.

The paste is then spread onto circular mats and stacked on top of each other. These mats are then placed onto a hydraulic press, which applies pressure to squeeze out the oil from the paste. The resulting olive oil is collected in a container below the press.

Click to view the extraction video:

The production of olive oil through traditional methods involving millstones and cold pressing with hydraulic presses on the so called dorbades here in Crete, was a labor intensive process that demanded considerable skill and knowledge. However, the outcome was well worth the effort as it resulted in a high quality olive oil that was both pure and nutrient rich, possessing a mild and sweet flavor without any chemical additives or other forms of interference. This age-old practice has played a crucial role in safeguarding the region’s agricultural cultural heritage and traditions.