After You Land: Produce of Crete

Crete produces almost everything it eats—here's how the island has been a self-sufficient agricultural powerhouse for centuries…

With over 1,600 different kinds of plants and wild herbs (almost 170 of them endemic!), the goats and sheep grazing freely on the mountains produce exceptionally high-quality dairy products and meat.

The island's unique flora fuels the honey with rare mountain herbs and aromas, while the citrus and olive trees thrive in the coastal areas. And let's not even mention the 4,000-year-old wine-making tradition, with 11 indigenous grape varieties and over 60 wineries dotted around the island.

Oh, and if olive oil is your thing, you'll no doubt appreciate that there are roughly 40 olive trees for every person living in Crete—let that sink in for a moment.

A quarter of the island is covered in olive trees, some of which are over 3,000 years old. You'd be forgiven for thinking they belonged in a museum… instead, they’re still alive and producing exceptional fruit!

To experience authentic Cretan produce and truly understand the magic rooted deep in its soil, rent a car and venture beyond the tourist zones. Visiting the fishing villages and lush valleys will give you a privileged taste of local Cretan life — finger-licking dakos and askordoulakous guaranteed :-)