Little Olive Oil grew out of a life shaped by working with the land, first in Albania among family-owned olive groves, and later through more than two decades of landscape design and building in the UK. For founder Herman Ermal Pobrati, extra virgin olive oil has always been part of everyday life. It’s not something he discovered later, but something he grew up cooking with, finishing dishes with, and sharing at the table from an early age.
From Generations of Olive Growers in Albania
Herman grew up in the village of Pobrat in Albania, in a family that has owned olive groves for five generations. Olive trees were part of the landscape he knew best, and extra virgin olive oil was central to his family's cooking and eating. Like many Albanian families, they harvested their olives and took them to trusted local mills, returning with fresh, pure extra virgin olive oil that was used generously throughout the year.
In Albanian kitchens, extra virgin olive oil is used for all cooking and finishing. It forms the base of everyday dishes, from vegetables and beans to roasting, baking, and grilling. It’s always brought to the table to finish dishes, poured freely over salads, hot dishes, and bread. It’s not measured carefully or saved for special occasions. This is how Herman learned what extra virgin olive oil should taste like: fresh, vibrant, and alive in food.
Meals in Albania were always cherished. There were moments when the family gathered, stories were shared, and time slowed. Extra virgin olive oil quietly tied everything on the table together, binding simple ingredients and family recipes into something meaningful. Herman’s grandfather often said, “Every olive has a story,” a phrase that reflected how deeply olives, food, and family life were intertwined. Those early experiences shaped Herman’s understanding of generosity, quality, and the importance of eating together.
Family remains central to Herman’s life. As a father of three sons, he shares meals as part of everyday life, whether indoors or in the garden. Cooking together, sitting down without rushing, and finishing the meal with extra virgin olive oil reflect the habits he grew up with in Albania. These everyday meals are moments to be valued, grounding busy lives in something familiar and shared.
Transforming London Gardens Through Landscaping
After moving to the UK more than twenty years ago, Herman continued to work closely with the land through Acacia Gardens, his luxury landscape design and build company. His work includes transforming gardens in London and Hertfordshire into outdoor living spaces that bring people and families together, often over an alfresco meal.
Image: Herman Ermal Pobrati at The Way of St James Garden at RHS Hampton Court, full credits on case study.
Herman and his team are also regularly involved in constructing major RHS show gardens, including those at RHS Chelsea and RHS Hampton Court. Working at this level requires precision, consistency, and a deep understanding of materials and finishes.
Returning to Albanian Heritage Through Little Olive Oil
Over time, Herman became increasingly aware of the rising interest in Albania as a travel destination. More people were discovering its stunning landscapes, food culture, and favourable climate. Albania is a country where land and food are closely connected, and extra virgin olive oil plays a central role in daily life. Yet despite this growing curiosity, Albanian extra virgin olive oil remained largely unfamiliar to UK consumers.
At the same time, Herman reflected on how different the extra virgin olive oil he grew up with was from much of what is commonly available in the UK. Having always cooked with fresh, pure extra virgin olive oil, he recognised that many people have not had the chance to taste it at its freshest and most expressive. When you grow up with truly fresh extra virgin olive oil, you learn how much it can elevate everyday food.
The time felt right to explore whether there was curiosity and interest in Albanian extra virgin olive oil in the UK. Little Olive Oil was launched to answer that question and to bring the same fresh, vibrant flavour Herman grew up with to UK tables, in a way that fits naturally into everyday cooking.
Before developing the brand further, Herman chose to engage directly with customers. One of the earliest steps was trading at the St Albans Christmas market. He offered tastings and spoke with people about Albania, extra virgin olive oil, and its use in Albanian homes. Those conversations revealed genuine curiosity. People wanted to understand its origins, taste the oil, and learn how it could fit into their own kitchens. It was the confirmation Herman was looking for, and so Little Olive Oil was launched in the UK market.
Bringing Albanian Extra Virgin Olive Oil to UK Tables
From family-owned olive groves in Albania, through years spent designing luxury landscapes for outdoor living in the UK, and back again to extra virgin olive oil, Herman Ermal Pobrati’s journey brings together everything that has shaped him. Little Olive Oil shares that journey, offering Albanian extra virgin olive oil that reflects freshness, heritage, and the simple pleasure of meals shared, indoors or out.
The latest Little Olive Oil harvest comes from Albania’s Berat region, near where Herman grew up and where his family still lives. Berat has a long olive-growing tradition, with strong links between family groves and local mills. Sourcing from this region keeps Little Olive Oil connected to a real place, rooted in landscape, memory, and lived experience. Herman hopes you enjoy Little Olive Oil.
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