Sparta Gourmet Greek Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) 3L Tin — Cold-Pressed Koroneiki, Laconia | Everyday Cooking Oil

Sparta Gourmet is the everyday Mediterranean cooking EVOO from the Georgiou family's groves in Laconia, Peloponnese — cold-pressed Koroneiki, September 2025 harvest, sub-0.3% acidity. The oil for a kitchen that actually cooks: sautéing, roasting, marinades, dressings, finishing. The 3L tin is the format for households where olive oil is a daily ingredient, not a garnish.

If you're looking for a finishing-only, lab-certified high-polyphenol oil for drizzling raw, that's the Sparta Gourmet Premiere. The Gourmet 3L is built for the cook.

"The best olive oil I've ever tasted. Found it at a Greek restaurant in Astoria, NY — tracked it down and ordered twice. My guests are raving about it." — Verified buyer

The Georgiou Family, Laconia

Sparta Gourmet comes from the Georgiou family's groves in the foothills of the Taygetos range, in the Laconia region of the Peloponnese — one of the world's most concentrated Koroneiki growing areas. The Georgiou family has been cultivating olives in this landscape for over a century. The September 2025 harvest is cold-pressed at sub-0.3% free acidity — well below the 0.8% legal ceiling for extra virgin classification. Polyphenols test in the 350–500 mg/kg range, characteristic of early-harvested Laconian Koroneiki. The Sparta Gourmet line has earned a Silver in the High Polyphenol category at the Berlin Global Olive Oil Awards 2022, a Silver at the New York International Olive Oil Competition, and a Silver at the London Olive Oil Awards 2021.

Why the 3L Tin

Light is the primary driver of olive oil oxidation. Most glass bottles — even dark ones — let in enough to degrade the oil over months of use. The opaque tin blocks it entirely. Combined with the resealable cap and pour spout, it's a format built for a kitchen that goes through olive oil freely, without rationing. Decant into a smaller bottle for the counter if you prefer; keep the tin in a cool pantry. Best consumed within 18 months of the September 2025 harvest (by March 2027) and within 6–8 months of opening.

At roughly 200 tablespoons per tin, this is the lowest cost-per-use we offer on Sparta Gourmet — without any compromise on the oil. For families, weekly meal preppers, and anyone tired of running out mid-recipe, this is the format that makes sense.

How to Use It

Use Sparta Gourmet 3L for everything the kitchen demands: sautéing vegetables, roasting lamb or chicken, building marinades, whisking dressings, and finishing dishes at the table. It's the oil that makes Mediterranean grilled chicken taste like it came from a taverna, and the base that makes any bread dipping oil worth making from scratch. For finishing and drizzling, pair it with an Ariston infused oil:

• Ariston Chili EVOO — drizzle over pizza, eggs, or grilled meats straight from the oven
• Ariston Lemon EVOO — finishing oil for fish, salads, and grilled vegetables
• Ariston Garlic EVOO — bread dipping, pasta, and roasted potatoes

What Makes Koroneiki the Right Variety for Cooking

Koroneiki is Greece's dominant olive variety — small-fruited, low-yield, and naturally high in polyphenols. It produces an oil with a robust, slightly peppery character that holds up to heat without losing its flavor. Where delicate oils from larger olive varieties can flatten under heat, Laconian Koroneiki stays present in the pan and in the finished dish. It's the variety Greek kitchens have cooked with for centuries, and it's the reason Greek food tastes the way it does. Learn more about what separates authentic Greek EVOO from commodity olive oil →

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the best olive oil for Mediterranean cooking?
  A fresh, cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil with a stated harvest date, moderate-to-high polyphenols, and a variety that holds up to heat — exactly what Laconian Koroneiki delivers. The Sparta Gourmet 3L (September 2025 harvest, sub-0.3% acidity, 350–500 mg/kg polyphenols) is built as an everyday Mediterranean cooking oil for sautéing, roasting, marinades, and dressings.
• Can I cook with this olive oil at high heat?
  Yes. Sparta Gourmet 3L is an everyday cooking EVOO — suitable for sautéing, roasting, and pan cooking. Quality extra virgin olive oil has a smoke point of approximately 375–405°F (190–207°C), well above most home cooking temperatures. The Koroneiki variety's natural phenolic content also makes it more stable under heat than lower-polyphenol oils.
• How is this different from the Sparta Gourmet Premiere?
  The Premiere is a limited-harvest, lab-certified high-polyphenol oil (522 mg/kg, World Olive Center for Health, Feb 2026) designed for raw finishing use — drizzled over finished dishes to preserve its phenolic profile. The Gourmet 3L is the everyday cooking oil from the same Georgiou family grove: same Koroneiki variety, same cold-pressed method, same Laconian provenance — built for volume use at a format and price that makes daily cooking with real Greek EVOO practical.
• What does PDO mean for Greek olive oil?
  PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) is the EU's strictest geographical certification — it guarantees an oil was produced, processed, and packaged in a specific region using defined traditional methods. Laconian EVOO produced from Koroneiki olives in the Peloponnese qualifies under EU PDO frameworks. It's the certification that separates traceable, origin-verified oil from commodity blends labeled "packed in Italy."
• How long will the tin last after opening?
  Best consumed within 6–8 months of opening for peak flavor and polyphenol integrity. Store with the cap sealed in a cool, dark pantry — not next to the stove. The opaque tin provides superior light protection compared to glass, extending the oil's open shelf life.