How old are your trees?
Our trees are, on average, between 30 and 150 years old. Unlike humans, olive trees actually become more productive with age. The older they get, the better the quality of the olives – and you can feel that in every drop of our oil. A tree is usually most productive between 50 and 65 years old.

Do you also plant new trees?
Yes, we do that too. Whenever there's space on our land, we plant new trees. This ensures that our olive grove remains sustainable and future-oriented.

When does a young tree start to bear olives?
It's safe to say that a young tree begins to bear olives after 4-5 years. However, things get really exciting after 30 years—that's when the tree reaches its full potential, and the olives become particularly high-quality.

How much care do olive trees actually need?
Olive trees are hardy plants accustomed to harsh conditions. They don't require much water, but regular care is essential to maintain the quality of the olives. This includes pruning the trees, watering during dry periods, and protecting them from disease. If properly cared for, they can remain productive for centuries.

How do you view climate change and its impact on your crops?
Compared to Spain, we in Greece have fortunately not been as severely affected so far, as we operate in a region with more favorable climatic conditions. But we also need to take precautions. In the coming years, we will build a rainwater harvesting and drip irrigation system to collect and better utilize precipitation. Currently, these systems only exist on a small scale with private farmers, but we're thinking bigger.

How many olive trees are there worldwide?
There are more than one billion olive trees worldwide. Around 80% of them are located in the Mediterranean region, primarily in Spain, Italy, Greece, and Tunisia. Other countries such as the USA, Australia, Japan, and even China also grow olives.

What type of olives do you have?
We have the Koroneiki olive – perfect for olive oil. It's bitter and has a very intense flavor. It's also high in polyphenols, making it particularly healthy

How do I know if olive oil is really good?
Do the eye-nose-mouth test:

• Eye: A good olive oil should have a slight greenish shimmer – not too pale, but not too dark either.
• Nose: Smell it – if it smells like fresh olives, grass or green tomatoes, that’s a good sign.
• Mouth: Taste it. A good oil has an intense flavor that may be slightly bitter or peppery. If it's spicy on the palate, that's a sign of high polyphenol content, which is good for your health.
  

How high does the polyphenol content have to be for the oil to be good?
Polyphenols are antioxidants responsible for the health-promoting properties of olive oil. A good polyphenol content is above 250 mg/kg. The higher the content, the more intense the flavor and the greater the health benefits. Our oil regularly exceeds this value, at >600 mg/kg.

How many olives do I actually need to get 1 liter of oil?
On average, you can say that you need about 3-5 kg ​​of olives for 1 liter of oil.

Why is your olive oil more expensive than supermarket brands?

Because it’s not comparable.
Most supermarket oils are blends from different countries, harvests and qualities – often anonymous, aged, and untraceable. Ours isn’t. Sarmakinas comes from a single harvest, a single region, and our own trees. Hand-picked, cold-extracted, stored in our own stainless steel tanks. Fresh, powerful, tested – and rich in polyphenols. What you pay for is quality, responsibility, and real character.

Learn more about our oil here.

How is your oil produced?
Our harvest begins between the end of October and the end of November, and we harvest the olives by hand, assisted by electric hand-held machines. Every day, we bring the freshly harvested olives directly to the press. After filtering, we store the oil for about four weeks until it has settled. We then bottle the oil under controlled conditions, package it, and ship it directly to Austria. This way, the flavor remains untouched and authentic.

What is the process by which olives are turned into oil after harvest?
Once the olives are harvested from our fields, we transport them daily and as quickly as possible to our partner, who carries out the pressing. A short route is crucial – the faster the olives are processed, the better the quality of the oil. First, the olives are separated from the leaves and branches, as these impair the quality of the oil. The olives are then thoroughly washed and finally ground. The olive pulp is then slowly stirred to extract the oil. The oil is then separated from the liquid and filtered. After 4 weeks of storage, it is bottled.

How can you guarantee that you control the entire process?
We have our own tanks at our partner, who presses the oil for us. These tanks are freshly filled daily and then sealed – and only we have the key. This ensures that no tampering is possible. From the first to the last drop, we know exactly what's in the bottle.

How do you know how good your oil is?
Before the oil is released for its four-week storage period, we take samples that are analyzed immediately. Then, we analyze them again before bottling. This ensures that all quality parameters meet our high standards before the oil reaches you.

Why aren’t you organic certified yet?
Organic certification is a lengthy process that typically takes three to four years. However, the fact remains: Our oil is organic. Both our fertilizers and our entire cultivation method are purely organic. Certification itself is a process we will nevertheless pursue in the coming years.

Take a look at our olive groves in Greece here

Which countries do you deliver to?

We currently deliver to Germany and Austria .

How much are the shipping costs?

Austria:
Order value 0–150 € → Shipping: 6.50 €
From 150 € or more → Free shipping

Germany:
Order value 0–150 € → Shipping: 10.90 €
From 150 € or more → Free shipping

How long does delivery take?

Austria: 3–6 working days
Germany: 5–8 working days

If there are any delays, we will inform you immediately.


🛍️ Local pickup (Click & Collect)

Can I also pick up my order?

Yes! Select the "Local Pickup" option at checkout.

When can I pick up my order?

You can pick up your order from us every Wednesday between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. without registering.

If you would prefer to come on Saturday between 10am and 12pm , please write to us in advance at info@sarmakinas.com – we will prepare everything for you.

How long does it take until my order is ready for pickup?

Usually within 1–2 business days . You will be notified via email.

Where can I pick up?

📍 Sarmakinas GmbH, Frankgasse 6/3, 1090 Vienna

How do you get to us?

🚇 Subway: U2 or U4 to “Schottentor”, from there about 5 minutes on foot.
🚌 Bus: Line 13A or 40A, stop “Schwarzspanierstraße”.
🚗 Car: There is limited parking in the area.

How long do I have to pick up?

Your order will be reserved for 7 days . After that, it will be canceled and your purchase amount refunded.

Ready to order? Here is the shop.

What payment methods do you offer?
We accept the following payment methods:
✔️ Credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB)
✔️ PayPal
✔️ Apple Pay
✔️ Google Pay
✔️ Instant bank transfer (Klarna Sofort)

Can I change my payment method after placing my order?
No, unfortunately it is not possible to change the payment method afterwards.

Is the payment secure?
Yes! All transactions are encrypted and processed through certified payment providers.

When will my account be debited?
Directly when completing the order.

Can I return products?
Yes – you can return unused and original packaged products within 14 days of receipt .

📌 How it works:

1. Send us an email to: info@sarmakinas.com
2. Please enter your order number
3. Return the products to the address below
   
   📍 Return address:
   Sarmakinas GmbH
   Frankgasse 6/3
   1090 Vienna, Austria
   
   

Who bears the return costs?
As required by law, you cover the return shipping costs when exercising your right of withdrawal – unless the product was delivered damaged or incorrectly.

When will I receive my refund?
Once we’ve received and checked your return, we’ll refund the full purchase amount – within 14 days at the latest. The refund will be issued via the same payment method you used for your order.

Are there any exceptions?
Unfortunately, we cannot accept returns of products that have been opened, personalized, or are perishable.

👉 All legal details can be found under Right of Withdrawal.


❗ Note in case of damaged delivery:
Please take photos of the damaged goods and packaging immediately after unpacking and send them with your order number to info@sarmakinas.com .

We will review your case as quickly as possible and arrange a replacement or refund.

Why don't I need a password with you?
You don't need a password for your Sarmakinas account.

You simply receive a secure one-time code via email every time you log in – it's convenient, secure, and especially useful on your mobile phone.

How can I delete my customer account?
Just send us a short message to: info@sarmakinas.com

We will delete your account, including all associated data, completely and transparently. Your orders will remain stored for accounting purposes only, but will no longer be linked to you.