Albania is becoming famous for its unique cuisine, and some of the main “elements” that make our cuisine unique are the original and aromatic ingredients grown in our country.

Olive oil, wine, and aromatic plants growing on Albanian soil have a unique flavor. Tirana has a range of olive groves.

We are offering you a special tour of Olive Oil in Marikaj, half an hour away from Tirana:

The tour begins with visiting the Marikaj village, then walking to the green hill above the houses, where you can see the 500-150-2500-year-old olive groves amid fantastic nature.

This area’s old tradition is to grow olive trees and produce olive oil. This tradition dates back to the earliest times. Historical documents show that in the 17th to 18th centuries, olive oil was exported from this region to the Republic of Venice and Saint Mark. But a local producer will tell you more about that story. The journey will familiarize you with the varieties that grow in this area, the age of trees, the qualities of quality olives, and how to care for these trees to be produced every year.

The tour continues in the factory, where we will see how the olives are processed. The factory serves the family by making olive oil from its olive groves and is used by all farmers who bring their olives and take back the olive oil.

But the whole thing is how to add value to olive oil to make it a tourist product. By collecting the spices and aromatic plants in the area, the family has managed to produce various olive oil products, which are used not only for cooking but also for cosmetics.

The third spot of the trip is the family store, where about 35 products of olive oil are displayed, from aromatic soaps with olive oil, various seasonings of carefully dried and packed tea, olive wood souvenirs, and different types of olive oils with other spices. Here, you can also make the olive oil tasting process and get acquainted with some features to distinguish an extra virgin olive oil from a less quality olive oil. Often, tasting is accompanied by local produce, tea, or herb pie in the area.

All the farmers who have olive groves and produce olive oil can apply a similar olive oil tour. It is not enough to produce quality oil; it is also essential to know how to trade and make it attractive to tourists.