High-end extra virgin olive oil should taste like fresh herbs and fruit, with a range of profiles from delicate to complex. In contrast, low quality oil just tastes like oil. To taste olive oil, sniff to identify aromas, slurp noisily to emulsify the oil, and swallow to take note of which flavours you taste. In ancient mythology, the tale of athleticism and the inception of the Olympic games is attributed to Idaios Hercules, a figure credited with being the first to plant an olive tree in Olympia. Originating from Crete or possibly the North, Idaios Hercules acquired this symbolic tree, which would play a significant role in the history of sports. Alongside his four brothers—Paionaio, Epimidi, Iaso, and Ida—Idaios Hercules witnessed the birth of competitive running when the eldest brother ventured to Olympia to participate in what would become the first race in recorded history. To celebrate the victor, Idaios Hercules crafted a wreath from the olive tree he had planted, placing it upon the winner’s head. This act established a tradition, where the olive wreath became the sole trophy, known as ATHLON, awarded to champions of the Olympic games. The wreath, fashioned from the Kotinos, or olive tree, was later institutionalized as the official prize of the Olympic games by Ifito, following guidance from the oracle of Delphi. This legacy of the olive wreath endures, symbolizing the honor and glory bestowed upon the winners.
