Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Alpha Omega Imports different from a regular grocery store?
Alpha Omega Imports sources directly from small family producers in Greece and Italy — not from distributors or warehouse brokers. Every product is selected for traceability, authenticity, and quality: PDO-certified feta from Thessaly, high-polyphenol EVOO from Laconia, barrel-aged balsamic from Drama. You get verified provenance, printed harvest dates, and certification documentation — none of which you'll find on a supermarket shelf.
What is the Mediterranean diet and what pantry staples does it require?
The Mediterranean diet is a UNESCO-recognized eating pattern centered on extra virgin olive oil, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, fish, and moderate dairy — particularly cheese and yogurt. The core pantry staples are high-quality EVOO (used generously as the primary fat), aged cheeses like PDO feta and Graviera, olives, honey, herbs like oregano and mountain tea, and fermented condiments like balsamic vinegar.
What is PDO certification and why does it matter?
PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) is the EU's strictest food quality designation. It guarantees that a product was produced, processed, and packaged in a specific geographic region using traditional methods — verified by an independent certification body. For feta, it means 70%+ sheep's milk from designated Greek regions. For olive oil, it means specific varieties from named areas. PDO products cannot be legally replicated outside their designated region.
Do you carry Greek honey and what makes Greek honey special?
Yes — we carry several Greek mountain honeys including Orino (thyme and herbs, 32 oz tin), Stathakis Cretan Honey (PDO-certified, thyme, pine, and 187 Cretan herbs), and raw unfiltered Greek mountain honey. Greek honey is among the world's most prized because of Greece's extraordinary botanical diversity — over 7,500 plant species, many endemic — which produces honeys with exceptional flavor complexity and high antioxidant content.
What Greek herbal teas do you carry?
We carry the full Othrys Farms wild-harvested herbal tea range from Mount Othrys in central Greece: Mountain Tea (Sideritis — caffeine-free, traditionally used for respiratory and immune support), Chamomile, Sage, and Lemon Verbena. All are wild-harvested, not cultivated, and come in pyramid bags for full-leaf infusion. Greek mountain tea has been consumed for centuries and is the subject of growing scientific interest for its polyphenol content.