About Us
Hi everyone, i’m Alex Kladas. My family and I have founded Folia to share high quality olive oil from our ancestor’s olive groves.
My father, Spyros Kladas worked for more than 35 years in the olive institute of Corfu which specializes in alternative and organic methods of cultivation and protection of the olive tree. My mother, Katerina Klada grew up in the countryside in a farming family and learned the traditional way of cultivation from a young age.
Our goal is to combine the traditional knowledge passed down to Alex over many generations of olive farming, with scientific solutions from Spyros’s background as an agronomist.
We are inspired by the love and motivation Alex’s parents and grandparents devoted to our 500-year-old olive groves, and are passionate about continuing their legacy with modern and sustainable practices to ensure that we preserve this treasure for future generations.
Our Oil
Folia olive oil comes from the “Lianoliά” variety which is native to Corfu, Greece.
Our olive groves are nestled in the village of Xathates, northern Corfu.
Folia olive oil is cold pressed locally in small batches.
The result is a certified high quality extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) of low acidity and rich in healthful polyphenols.
This gives our oil a rich and aromatic taste.
Throughout the production process we utilise sustainable and organic methods of growth, maintenance and harvesting.
Antipasti
We continue our family’s tradition by providing locally grown products from communities around Greece
Green Halkidiki Olives
Halkidiki olives, cultivated and harvested in the Halkidiki Peninsula of Northern Greece, thrive in a distinctive environment with unique climate and soil features. These olives undergo a traditional curing process in sea salt brine tanks for fermentation. The outcome is olives with a delectably meaty texture and a blend of briny and fruity flavours.
Black Kalamata Olives
Hand-picked at the peak of ripeness, the olives undergo natural fermentation in brine without any additives. Kalamata olives are distinguished by their intense fruity taste and a velvety, meaty texture.
Sun Dried Tomatoes
These organic sun-dried tomatoes undergo a natural drying process in the sun using large wooden trays and sea salt. Subsequently, they are preserved in a blend of extra virgin olive oil, vinegar, and herbs. Resulting in a succulent and aromatic Greek delicacy.
Health Benefits
What are polyphenols?
Polyphenols are compounds that plants produce to protect themselves from environmental stresses such as oxygen and heat. So far, 36 polyphenols have been identified in EVOO. Polyphenols also account for the bitter, peppery aftertaste in a good quality extra virgin olive oil.
Many diseases are driven by chronic, uncontrolled inflammation and it has been shown that oxidative stress is reduced if a high polyphenol diet is consumed due to the anti-inflammatory effect. The regular consumption of EVOO that is rich in polyphenols has shown a 40% relative decrease in the risk of stroke, a 44% decrease in the risk of heart disease as well as a 50-80% decrease in the risk of diabetes.
Is it safe to cook with extra virgin olive oil?
A study carried out in 2018, published in ACTA Scientific Nutritional Health demonstrated that extra virgin olive oil is one of the safest and most stable cooking oils. It was found that common cooking oils such as grapeseed and canola oil produced the highest amount of harmful polar compounds whereas extra virgin olive oil produced the lowest.
Furthermore, the antioxidants retained after heating was highest in extra virgin olive oil by a significant amount.
