Worlds Oldest Olive Tree?

Olive oil production has been closely linked to Cretan mythology, culture and economic life for the past 5,000 years.

The Vouves olive tree is located in the village of Ano (Upper) Vouves, about 5mins drive from The Mill, and has been classified as a ‘natural heritage monument', and is now known as the ‘Monumental Olive Tree of Vouves'.

It is believed that the first olive oil cultivation took place in Crete about 2500BC. Although the age of the Vouves tree is uncertain, the official age, based on annual growth rings, is about 3,000 years (i.e. it started life at the end of the Minoan period on Crete , or 1000BC).

The Vouves tree is claimed to be one of the oldest olive trees in the world that is still producing (tsounati) olives.