From 5 to 10 December 2023, four students had the opportunity to discover the picturesque Peloponnese region where EHTL olive oil is produced. During their stay, they were welcomed and accompanied by Mrs Toula Vassilacou, a passionate olive cultivator, who showed them all the ins and outs of producing an exceptional product which, after three years of transition, has just been awarded the organic label. From harvesting, to bottling, to shipping to Diekirch, the students were able to get a very concrete idea of the whole process and the care taken at each stage to guarantee a quality oil.

Discovering the olive groves on the Mani peninsula and taking part in the harvest were undoubtedly the experiences that made the biggest impression on the young people: working alongside experienced workers, the beginners didn’t hesitate to get their hands dirty, sparing no effort to contribute to the 2023 harvest, part of which will go to the EHTL.

It was an enriching experience, complemented by a training course on the sensory analysis of olive oil, organised for them at the University of Kalamata.

Over and above the knowledge of olive growing acquired directly in the field, it was a whole new world of landscapes, flavours, history, traditions and deeply human exchanges that broadened the horizons of the four young people, who were delighted with their trip to Greece.