World Olive Tree Day, A Celebration of Heritage, Healing & the Oils We Are Proud to Share
Every year on 26 November, the world pauses to honour one of humanity’s most ancient companions: the olive tree. Declared by UNESCO as World Olive Tree Day, this day recognises the olive tree’s profound cultural, environmental, and economic importance especially in Mediterranean countries like Greece, where its roots run deeper than history itself.
For us at The Greek Providore, this day carries special meaning. The olive tree is not just a symbol, it is the heart of our business, the soul of many of our producers, and the foundation of the extraordinary olive oils we proudly bring to Australia.
Today, we celebrate the tree, the families who care for it, and the exceptional varieties that make Greek olive oil one of the most revered in the world.
Why World Olive Tree Day Exists
UNESCO created World Olive Tree Day to:
Protect the olive tree as a symbol of peace & culture, The olive branch has always represented peace, wisdom, and resilience.
Acknowledge the tree’s environmental importance. Olive trees help prevent soil erosion, thrive in harsh climates, and support biodiversity, they are true guardians of the Mediterranean landscape.
Celebrate the communities who preserve ancient olive-growing traditions. Families, farmers, and small producers have dedicated generations to caring for these trees. Their knowledge, their values, and their connection to the land are part of what makes olive oil so special.
Promote sustainable and high-quality olive oil production. The world’s rising appreciation for authentic, traceable, extra virgin olive oil has made the preservation of traditional olive groves more important than ever.
World Olive Tree Day isn’t just about the tree, it’s about the people, the regions, the stories, and the heritage behind every drop of olive oil.
The Olive Varieties We Proudly Represent in Australia
One of the most beautiful parts of our work is celebrating the diversity of Greek olive varieties. Each one carries its own flavour profile, history, and terroir, no two are the same.
These are some of the extraordinary varieties behind the oils we bring to Australia:
A rare, ancient olive exclusive to Corfu, known for its vibrant green colour, high phenolic content, and bold, peppery finish. This variety produces some of the world’s most awarded health-claim olive oils.
Chondrolia of Crete (Throumbolia / Tsounati family)
Large-fruited, soft, juicy olives traditionally hand-picked. They create an aromatic, buttery, and beautifully smooth oil, a true expression of Cretan agricultural heritage.
A unique Peloponnesian variety known for its elegant bitterness, balanced fruitiness, and gentle spice. A rare cultivar that showcases the sophistication of Lakonian oils.
Large, bright-green olives famous for their bold flavour and crisp aroma. These oils burst with freshness and lively herbal character, a favourite for everyday Mediterranean cooking.
Koroneiki Variety (the queen of Greek olives)
Tiny olives packed with extraordinary flavour, producing a robust, peppery oil celebrated around the world.
Each of these varieties represents a different corner of Greece, different soil, different altitude, different stories, different families.
And that is exactly why we represent many oils, because no single olive can express the whole of Greece.
Why Olive Oil Is the Heart of Our Business
People may wonder, “Why do you stock so many different olive oils?”
Our answer is simple:
Because every bottle matters.
Every grove is unique.
Every family deserves to have their story told.
Olive oil is not one flavour. It’s a spectrum, grassy, fruity, peppery, floral, bold, soft, medicinal.
It reflects terroir, variety, harvest timing, and craftsmanship.
To honour World Olive Tree Day is to honour the full diversity of Greek olive oil, and the producers who dedicate their lives to excellence.
For us, this isn’t business.
It’s a responsibility.
A privilege.
A connection to Greece we carry with pride.
A Tribute to the Producers
Behind every bottle we import is a family: These are the people who keep Greek olive heritage alive, and we are honoured to represent them in Australia.
What This Day Means to Us
World Olive Tree Day reminds us of the incredible legacy we are privileged to share.
Olive oil is not just a product on our shelves.
It is culture, medicine, history, craftsmanship, identity, family
And every day, we bring a piece of Greece home, one grove, one family, one bottle at a time.