Why is olive oil consumption so low in Montenegro when Montenegro is one of the few countries in Europe that actually does cultivate olives?
Posted by Substratas@reddit | AskBalkans | View on Reddit | 137 comments

Source: International Olive Council | https://www.internationaloliveoil.org/olive-sector-statistics-march-2025/
Only-Dimension-4424@reddit
Greeks don't not consume , they simply drink...
_-MjW-_@reddit
Drink is an understatement. My mother is also doing infused olive oil for skin applications and my father even used it in a chainsaw.
bazilthemage@reddit
Remember when people started drinking "φραπελιά"?
For non greek-speakers, frap-elia (a pun from greek style instant cofee "frappé" and "elia"= olive) was a beverage popularised 15 years ago, in which we found a way to consume olive tree leaves.
Yes, we blended the leaves and drank them
sarcasticgreek@reddit
Or at least some lunatics did until it came out that olive leaves are quite toxic
snowdrop43@reddit
Olive leaf is NOT toxic if of the olepeura variety It's medicinal. 1/4 of a teaspoon is amazing for you. A glass of it? No.
U__X@reddit
😂😂
altonaerjunge@reddit
What as chainsaw fuel ?
_-MjW-_@reddit
As a lubricant.
Kas0mi@reddit
Respect for creativity but olive oil is too precious to be used as motor lubricant, plus it feels foul to disrespect food like that.
_-MjW-_@reddit
Was is correct? No, but sometimes you just got to use what you can find, and keep the work going.
Kitsooos@reddit
Using olive oil as a lubricant is kinda common.
Or to be more accurate, if you need some lubricant for whatever reason and you don't have the spesific kind you need, you can just use olive oil as an "all purpose" kind of lubricant.
slight_failure@reddit
All purpose... Hmm
Kitsooos@reddit
Yes indeed. Sex lubricant as well. As I said. All purpose. :)
Hunt695@reddit
Using olive oil (the real deal, not some low-grade crap) as a chainsaw lubricant would be considered blasphemy in some coastal parts of Croatia!
Optimal_Catch6132@reddit
It's very common in here too. My mother too also use for skin care or anything else like did somewhere in your body in pain let's put some olive oil there or did you burn you're hand olive oil.
greekgirl002@reddit
we can even tell which area in Greece the oil is from and have preferences on certain area's oil
orestaras@reddit
In some villages in Crete the actually do it
Only-Dimension-4424@reddit
Of course they do, they are Cretan after all, Crete is Texas of Ellada💥💥💥🔫🔫🔫
Kitsooos@reddit
Way too many guns on that island .... There and Mani are wild.
Only-Dimension-4424@reddit
It's nice thing, my village is like that too, we have 5 guns in house, thus in weddings we shoot to air which is fun😊
Moduscide@reddit
Texas is the Crete of the US.
orestaras@reddit
Texans take oil from the ground, Cretans have oils from the trees.
They have Texaco, we have Cretaco!
Azatis-@reddit
haha, it looks like it
12358132134@reddit
Olive oil is expensive. Sunflower oil is cheap.
BeuTenalach@reddit
Olive oil is healthy. Sunflower is not.
I agree on the price point, but it's worth at least consuming it in salads and such.
Mediterranean countries (top 5) use it also for everyday cooking.
pancake_gofer@reddit
But life is bleaker without olive oil!
12358132134@reddit
What is healthy or not is completely subjective. It used to be that the margarine was healthy and butter was not, now it's other way around.
The fact is that sunflower oil is about 10 times cheaper than olive oil, and that is the answer to the OP's question on why Montenegro doesn't use more olive oil in its cuisine.
rojepilafi11@reddit
The slavic and turkic people are not native to the region. They come from northern or steppe climates, hence culturally did not cultivate and consume olives.
Climate also plays a big role as the northern and central balkans are colder and don't really have a Mediterranean climate.
BurakOnderUslu@reddit
Greeks can't beat Izmir Turks, we sip that bottle.
Neat_Pass_4350@reddit
It’s not cheap here hence why people switch to sunflower oil.
azzurro99@reddit
The biggest outlier is Bosnia, literally less than Nordic countries despite on Adriatic
Suspicious_Sale_3480@reddit
Because burek uses sunflower oil, not olive oil
azzurro99@reddit
I think it’s mostly melted butter
Unusual_Bid5919@reddit
I dont think Bosnia has a tradition of olive oil consumption. Simple as that. Maybe more in the south.
One interesting side note. Bosnia is mostly a lush green place. For some reason many belive its a very dry place. Like countries closer to Adriatic/Mediter. Sea.
Gladius_Bosnae_Sum@reddit
Yeah it does. Can't imagine a meal without olive oil and meat. I simply choose not to believe this map data, or data in general, since the results are always skewed between rich and poor, between religions and between regions.
Unusual_Bid5919@reddit
I dont understand what you mean by the results are always skewed? Why would the data be skewed by those factors? You would expect that example, economy and region would be a statisticaly significant factor. It could that the region Bosnia belongs to is positively correlated while the economy is negatively. It depends what is a stronger driver.
Both our examples are in the end just anecdotal evidence. However your example could be a bit worse if you were using your self as an example or better if you couldnt imagine a Bosnian eating a meal without olive oil.
Bosnias do also eat a bit less meat then Europe generally and thats in my opinion a good thing. 🙂 It results in a much healtier kitchen then the processed garbage most of the Europe is eating.
Gladius_Bosnae_Sum@reddit
How is the data gathered? If it's a questionnaire, where is it performed? Are they taking the sales numbers? If so, how do they account for homemade production, or buying larger quantities of cheaper olive oil in Montenegro and Albania, how does importing olive oil affect these numbers? How does this data qualify considering very ineffective governmental control?
Of course it's anecdotal, I was sharing an opinion. No, I was not using myself or my family as an example, but I do know how an average household looks like and what they eat.
The meat thing also falls under the same category. I buy all my cured meat products and most of my yearly meat from farmers who very likely do not pay tax for that. I'd argue that most of rural Bosnia does not buy cured meats and most of their meat supply from the supermarket. If it were true, however, that would most definitely be a negative thing as it would concern the (under) development of the youth. If you are interested in learning more about it, I could send a research paper.
Vegetarian and/or vegan diets are absolutely not healthier by default and eating meat is not the same as eating processed garbage. As it stands, the average Bosnian has unhealthy eating habits and consuming more meat could address the issue, probably, maybe.
Unusual_Bid5919@reddit
I really dont see the average Bosnian household consuming olive oil at every meal. That Im pretty sure of. Though I think its becoming more popular. 🙂
Meat is and has always been expensive. Many countries have a sort of myth that they always consumed large amounts of meat. Which is not correct. Meat was a special occasion meat. A cow was much more worth alive and producing milk.
Developement or under developement of children has historicaly or even today nothing to do with a lack of meat. Its is connected to a general lack of nutrients in any form. Simply put, hunger.
Bosnia is much better in consuming meat/vegetable dishes where the meat ratio is smaller then rest of ingredients. Thats a healthy approach to a balanced diet. A lot of poultry also.
One exception are the whole grilled animals. 🙂
almirbhflfc@reddit
Yeah my entire family, Bosnian and Montenegrin, uses olive oil for almost every single meal. Predominantly in Sarajevo especially. I do think this days is likely inaccurate due to small local vendor sales
vbd71@reddit
Because Vehabije come from sandy deserts? /s
Unusual_Bid5919@reddit
I think its a sort of climate stereotyping. They are not accounting for the mountains and the hills. 🙂
Limp_Truck2738@reddit
Yeah, butter all the way. Fifty years ago like 70 % of People had their own cows, they could churn it. Still plenty of people do. I buy homemade butter, its expensive but great. I have olive oil in the house but it's mostly decorative piece.
exhiale@reddit
Yeah, but only the southern part has a Mediterranean climate. Due to being mountainous, most of the country is actually quite continental and can get colder than many central European countries
AntiKouk@reddit
I walked through it from Croatia to MonteN and I don't even remember seeing a single olive tree tbh
AnythingGoesBy2014@reddit
bosnia is anything but mediteranean country. it is mountanous and mostly has no mediteranean influence on climate and lifestyle. same with montenegro. in croatia only very slim part along the coast counts as actually mediteranean.
adnanmehic@reddit
Hercegovina is mediteranean, bosnia has a different climate you are right but in BiH you still have Hercegovina so yeah
exhiale@reddit
Herzegovina does, Bosnia does not. The upper boundary of Olives in the country is literally slightly north of the city of Mostar.
azzurro99@reddit
Montenegro has definitively a Mediterranean vibe
Prot3@reddit
Just the small strip of coast. Rest of the country is very much continental climate. Mountains, forests, meadows etc.
Mammoth_Meet_9313@reddit
100 % of olive trees in Bosnia & Herzegowina is in Herzegowina.
Olive oil market in Herzegowina is not documented because a lot of oil is sold by small local vendors.
HalfProfessional8451@reddit
Yea
darkopetrovic@reddit
The biggest outlier is Bosnia has data where usually on maps it doesn’t
VegetableFormer6888@reddit
Economy and budget maybe?
drjet196@reddit
Because we are an economic powerhouse.
VegetableFormer6888@reddit
Even if you are not, you are definitely better than Macedonia.
LionT09@reddit
Can easily say that Kosovo is in the top 5.
Local_Geologist_2817@reddit
Wouldn't say so
Idontusespacebars@reddit
No way. It's always sunflower oil.
Individual-Cell-8838@reddit
Depends.
Fast food/restaurant? Yes, due to the price.
At home, more and more people are switching to Olive oil due to the health benefits
dardan06@reddit
We didn‘t use any olive oil until like 20 years ago
babicko90@reddit
Press X to doubt
neocekivanasila@reddit
Greece produces the best olive oil, that's all i have to say. Put it in my veins
Local_Geologist_2817@reddit
As a veterinary medical student I strongly disagree.
tiranazero@reddit
wouldnt be r/askbalkans without a Serb glazing a Greece, unprovoked.
neocekivanasila@reddit
Go glaze Clinton or some other politician, while I praise my favourite oil.
tiranazero@reddit
like I said, unprovoked gawk gawk glazing is absurd, esp over olive oil, Clinton, at the very minimum, did something humanitarian.
neocekivanasila@reddit
Haha dude, you can't be serious 🤣 what did the Greek olive oil do to you?
tiranazero@reddit
Im sorry if Im being verbose but its just peak r/AskBalkans Serb glazing Greece behavior -- I mean unabashedly and shamefully so, I mean, A serb olive oil sommelier from a country that can't grow an olive tree, come on, buddy... there's no need for you to strout about and introduce this comparative discourse and language, unprovoked and without remittance and declare with Serbian Orthodox Jihadist religious absolutism that the best olive oil in the region is in Greece, its unbecoming, truthfully, do it behind closed doors.
neocekivanasila@reddit
But what do you care about Serbs and Greeks? And more importantly, what do you care what my opinion on oil is? Go and worry about some important things, a friendly advice. And stop being rude, Serbs are also people, and we also have a right to personal opinions, even on oil. I would add also that it is also you who is a peak askbalkans Albanian hater on anything Sebian. Calling me an Orthodox jihadist, really?! Sheesh
Yourlocalpizzakebab@reddit
As a Türk i have to agree
Far-away-eyes1@reddit
Out of curiosity, olive oil is getting really expensive where I'm at. How much does it cost per liter in Greece?
sarcasticgreek@reddit
This year producers sold it around 6-7€, but at the supermarket it's around 10-12€. We export so much, it's really expensive for the Greek consumer.
Far-away-eyes1@reddit
Thanks a lot! It is the same price here. Prices have really increased last couple of years
Sad-Head4491@reddit
€10-12 for high quality EVOO is actually very decent.
sarcasticgreek@reddit
It's actually twice what it cost 5 years ago. With production hitting snags in Spain and Italy, we've been hit as well through overexporting.
adnanmehic@reddit
Not anymore, over the last five years, Croatian olive farmers and oil producers have been recognized for their performance and have been ranked among the best olive and olive oil regions in the world. I think it is because they are pretty unknown for this so they can concentrate more on higher quality, Greek olive oil have been always popular so your farmers has more pressure to have bigger output in a shorter time
neocekivanasila@reddit
To each their own. I am not Greek btw, but I know no oil is better than Kalamata and Cretan stuff.
papapara1312@reddit
Different area different quality, its not all about professionalism.
FYI: A lot of greek olive oil is exported to italy who resell it as their own. There was a huge scandal a few years ago with Italien mafia exporting to USA low quality greek olive oil as italien virging olive oil (which it wasnt obvisouly).
Dear-Ad1582@reddit
This is likely a declaration of war....
shortEverything_@reddit
Serbia N/A bros
Sufficient_Dentist76@reddit
We smuggle all our olive oil from Greece. Shadow oilconomy.
Dear-Ad1582@reddit
Who the fuck needa olive oil when you have rakia at hand?
mmarkomarko@reddit
Lard!
elbatalia@reddit
In Greece we even have sweets and savory snacks with olives and olive oil so…
notnotnotnotgolifa@reddit
Which sweets
elbatalia@reddit
Olive spoon sweet not for everyone 😅. Cakes made will olive oil and cookies
blumonste@reddit
Some people don't like the smell of olive oil, they pick sunflower oil for more neutral taste, just a habit.
Kitsooos@reddit
How can any sane person not like the smell of olive oil ? It's as close to the smell of the gods as you can get.
blumonste@reddit
Preferences... I like olive oil, I use olive oil in cooking. I use olive oil soap.
nameless65@reddit
I would say that 9.3 kg is underrated
IAMTHAT9@reddit
I am glad my family grows olive trees, its gods gift🫒🕊️🍸
Goated549@reddit
I literally bathe to it
Substratas@reddit (OP)
Substratas@reddit (OP)
Kitsooos@reddit
Οι Αλβανοί πάντα έτσι ήταν ή εμείς τους καταστρέψαμε ?
HotDescription431@reddit
Albanians have always enjoyed olive oil. My family has 10000 plants.
NoFlamingosHere@reddit
Kind of a bullcrap map too.
Substratas@reddit (OP)
cashiu@reddit
Some years ago when I visited Montenegro it was a bit shock to find that nearly none of the restaurants were serving olive oil for free. As a Mediterranean country, it is a must
Plastic_Insect_1356@reddit
It's located in the Mediterranean but nothing about Montenegro and Montenegrins is mediterranean. It's an continental culture
halosethr@reddit
We consume about 10 litres of olive oil per year. 2 people.
LetopisetuRedditului@reddit
I consumed probably 2 litres in the last 10 years.
cosmicdicer@reddit
If my food is not drowning in olive oil I don't eat it, my grandma made me this way😤
Kitsooos@reddit
Your grandma is a good woman.
berkakar@reddit
we are much lower than greece, italy and spain only because we can't afford margarine even.
Only-Dimension-4424@reddit
It's not just about economics but more like related to culture and cuisine, Turkey is partially Mediterranean , so olive oil is only popular in Aegean and Antalya etc , while in Thrace sunflower oil is popular, and rest of country prefer butter
ImmediateInitiative4@reddit
Yeah, like, Black Sea region doesn’t even have much with olive oil in its cuisine because olive tree doesn’t even grow here. It’s imported from the other parts of the country
DependentEbb8814@reddit
Turkey is low. The answer is brutal poverty. We have some amazing olive oil produced in the western regions. Some European brands even buy it and brand it.
ImmediateInitiative4@reddit
I live in Black Sea region, olive trees don’t even grow here. Same goes for Central and East Anatolia. Olive is mostly a thing of Mediterranean coast, and Turkey doesn’t only border the Mediterranean sea unlike countries like Greece and Italy. You can’t supply the entire country just from our Mediterranean coast.
Only-Dimension-4424@reddit
lol, no it's not just about that, it's about culture, olive oil is only popular in Aegean and Antalya etc in Turkey, while in Thrace sunflower oil is popular , and rest of country butter, Turkey is partially Mediterranean, so that's why
DependentEbb8814@reddit
Come on dude it's mostly about financial downfall. People used to bathe in this shit in the western regions and now even the producers are using it sparingly. Otherwise I'm well aware that even animal fats such as beef or sheep tallow are loved in this country. Guess what, they are very expensive too now thanks and the impoverished citizens can't access them as easily as before. Somewhere around 2018-19s I remember sheep derived fat being sold more expensive than its actual fucking meat. If you're wondering if I'm a freak or something the answer is yes, I'm fucking crazy about animal fats and I could gobble down nicely seared fat cubes for dinner. They are the most amazing thing!
Only-Dimension-4424@reddit
Olive oil was never more popular than butter in Turkey overall, it's just popular in Aegean region, and in terms of economics Turkey is more less is same last 10 years if you look gdp per capita/average wage etc , or even slightly improved compared to past in terms of car ownership, check how many registered cars in traffic in 2015(20 million ) and check 2025(31 million) , you'll see more than 50 percent increase , this is sign of become wealthier
DependentEbb8814@reddit
Dude the map says consumption 2022-2023. I don't care about popular. Even as of now it's eclipsing so many other countries and I'm telling you it used to be more accessible in the past. Additionally now I know who is your boss after reading your take on car ownership and claims on how we've become wealthier.
Only-Dimension-4424@reddit
😵💫consumption is related with popularity since if something is more popular then automatically consumption goes up , as simple as that, I know the fact that Turkey ruled bad which could be at least 50 percent more rich if erdo didn't ruin in last decade but due to Turkey was always poor some stats goes up like car ownership, the stats are there, explain to me then why cars increased 50 percent in last decade? but you can't since you are just pessimistic opposition , while I'm neither pro government nor opposition, I'm independent and realistic
Caramel_Traditional@reddit
It's coz you don't get high on your own supply.
Statakaka@reddit
I don't trust that we are that low
karabuna@reddit
As a Bulgarian olive oil addict who fills the trunk with 5-liter cans every time I hit Greece, this map is straight-up lying.
marmotsarefat@reddit
Isin’t montenegro known for sunflower oil
OnePalmOne@reddit
Nah, that’s Serbia.
DrakaMNE@reddit
Because Sunflower oil is multiple times cheaper, and since 90s people are used to it more than olive one
TheSunflowerSeeds@reddit
A compound in sunflower seeds blocks an enzyme that causes blood vessels to constrict. As a result, it may help your blood vessels relax, lowering your blood pressure. The magnesium in sunflower seeds helps reduce blood pressure levels as well.
Republic_Jamtland@reddit
User name checks out.
-Against-All-Gods-@reddit
Best bot on Reddit. Whenever someone mentions sunflower, he comes in with a fascinating fact. 🌻
Republic_Jamtland@reddit
How come your comment didn't trigger the Sunflower bot?
Sandzakguy@reddit
Correct me if im wrong but would it make sense that olives and therefore olive oil lost popularity during the communist era? I know that owners of olive tree "fields" got their land taken away in Ulcinj for example. The state then probably focused more on producing sunflower oil since it’s a lot cheaper and easier to farm/harvest/whatever. You can still find the large area of olive trees in Ulcinj, don’t know if they are in private hands again.
AgileAd1346@reddit
Olive oil is expensive.
Secure_Expression114@reddit
Sunflower oil 1$, olive oil 10$
zifilis@reddit
Because serbs don't understand a concept of decent food.
AndyBlayaOverload@reddit
Its the price, also for Serbia the info is N/A
zifilis@reddit
Surely montenegro serbs are not serbs ;)
orestaras@reddit
Thank god my wifes parents have olive oil trees and we take it for free!
lockless_algo@reddit
I hope they don't give you the oil in 17lt containers... or else: Police! This guy here!!
orestaras@reddit
Based on how much oil we consume, we should have a second tap in our kitchen only for olive oil
PedroPerllugo@reddit
Civilizaded VS Barbarian Europe
That_Case_7951@reddit
Olives! We need more olives! Can't have enough olives!
2leftpinky@reddit
I wonder if eastern turkey brings the consumption number down for western turkey since all I had there was olive oil.
AkisNeapoli@reddit
Βάλε λάδι και ελα βράδυ Ευρώπη 🤣