The little store that could…
According to the myth, Goddess Athena gained the favour of the citizens by offering them an olive tree. Its wondrous fruit would be used for eating or squeezed into olive oil, which in turn was used for cooking and lighting, but also for body cosmetics and ointments. Olive wood was shaped into home utensils, weapons (Hercules’s rod was made of olive wood), and, of course, fire. In return for that gift, the people named their city after the Goddess, and so started a wonderful story between the Olive and the Greeks that we can still attest to every time we sit at the table.
Even beyond olive oil, Greek culinary tradition is long and complex. Due to the country’s geostrategic location and long history, it has been influenced by and has influenced in return many surrounding civilizations. Be sure, the flavours you will find here are unique. From the simplest of salads to the most extravagant, multi-layered moussaka the local and unique ingredients and flavours turn each dish to an exceptional experience. Olive oil is still the cornerstone of Greek cuisine as well as the main ingredient for local cosmetics ranging from olive oil soap to regenerating face creams and massage oils. And as the great Nobel-prize winning Greek poet Odysseas Elytis once said: “To disintegrate Greece, would leave you with just an olive tree, a wine grove, and a ship. Which means, that’s all you’ll need to put it back together”.
Located in Plaka, the old Athenian neighbourhood underneath the Acropolis, Athena Olive was established in 2011 to offer the city guests a glimpse into Greek culinary culture. Small in size, but big at heart, our store offers a great variety of Greece’s most traditional flavours. Greek olives, wines, and sweets find their place in our selves together with olive oil creams, essential oils, and perfumes. You will also find plenty of olive wood utensils and other kitchenware, as well as tablecloths and kitchen towels.
Each year we receive many guests from different countries and you can rest assured that our knowledgeable personnel will guide you proficiently so that you can choose what is best for you. Contrary to the common “pushy” sale that most local stores exhibit, we prefer to assist our clients at their own pace, respectfully guiding them through the various products they will find at our store.
So, come on in, we’ll be glad to have you!