Dalmatia Oil

We are a Croatia–UK collaboration. After more than 15 years in healthcare consultancy, Dr Neil Jarrett, founder of Dalmatia Oil International, was ready for a change.  "I was stressed and disillusioned after years of health sector consultancy. I had high cholesterol and high blood pressure. I tried prescription medication, but I didn’t like the side effects. After researching alternatives, I switched to a natural regime—mainly high polyphenol olive oil and more exercise.  It worked brilliantly. My blood pressure and cholesterol dropped, I slept better, my gut health improved, and I felt energised for the first time in years."

While working in Dalmatia on a mental health project supporting war veterans—many of whom were farmers and doctors—Neil met olive growers and millers. He was inspired by their resilience, their stories, and the rich, complex flavours of their oils.

From that connection, a partnership was formed to test and produce exceptional olive oils specifically for health-conscious markets in the UK, Northern Europe, and the US. Together, we worked to optimise levels of polyphenols and oleic acid—key compounds linked to cardiovascular and anti-inflammatory benefits. Independent lab tests confirmed our oils had far higher levels than most extra virgin oils marketed as “high polyphenol,” and the potential was clear.

At the same time, we launched guided olive oil tours from Zadar and Šibenik—not just to share the experience, but to learn directly from customers. These tastings and visits gave us powerful insights into what international visitors value most: authenticity, health, flavour, and story. What began as market research turned into something more.

We discovered a real USP: offering “the real Croatia.” Our tours go beyond the standard excursions to places like Krka or Kamenjak, combining beautiful landscapes with a deeper dive into local food, culture, and history. Visitors get to meet producers, taste oils and wines, and understand the land behind the product. This format has struck a chord—it’s working, and it’s helping us build a loyal international customer base.

Since then, our oils have gone on to win Gold Awards at the New York, Berlin, and London International Olive Oil Council competitions—part of our wider effort to put Dalmatian olive oil on the global map.
Though the Dalmatia region is often overshadowed by Istria, the prestigious Flos Olei guide has ranked Croatia as the world’s best olive-growing region for seven years in a row. Dalmatia benefits from an ideal climate, mineral-rich soil, and centuries of olive-growing tradition. While many other producing regions have suffered from heat extremes and disrupted rainfall, Dalmatia has so far retained consistent growing conditions. We all hope that continues.

We’re located near Zadar on the Adriatic coast. Our extra virgin olive oils are harvested early and cold-pressed in our partner’s state-of-the-art mill. We produce both single-variety oils and blends of up to six native Dalmatian olives, including Oblica, which makes up about half of our oil. The result is a medium to spicy flavour profile with notes of fresh grass and almonds, and an oil naturally rich in antioxidants.