Our Story: A Tech Journey Back to Our Roots
We spent years immersed in the world of technology—both of us software engineers, working on cutting-edge innovations that power everyday life in the digital age. Basma dedicated 18 years at Intel, transitioning between engineering, management and corporate strategy roles, while Maria honed her engineering skills at various companies, building solutions that shape how people interact with technology. Through countless product launches, strategic planning sessions, and late nights at the office, one constant always pulled at our hearts: the deep, unwavering connection to our family’s olive oil heritage in Rameh.
Our father has faithfully nurtured the groves and pressed the olives all his life, but we realized that if it rested solely on his shoulders, this legacy might one day fade. We knew the centuries of tradition behind our extra virgin olive oil—and the story of Rameh’s famed Souri olives—needed fresh energy to survive. That realization compelled us to step away from our strictly tech-focused path and embark on a different kind of journey: rediscovering and revitalizing the Khalaf family heritage.
In the process, we uncovered 100-year-old documents extolling the extraordinary qualities of Rameh’s olive oil. The more we learned, the more we understood just how special our roots truly are. We read about our grandfather, Khalil Khalaf, who returned from New York in the early 20th century to build a life—rooted in these lands and their ancient olive groves. For generations, this oil not only sustained our family but stood at the heart of the village’s culture and economy.
The deeper we dug, the more it felt like our responsibility—as his granddaughters, as inheritors of this farmland and tradition—to ensure that this treasure would not only survive but thrive. We couldn’t let modern life overshadow the centuries-old practices our ancestors perfected. After all, if we, two tech professionals well-versed in problem-solving, couldn’t find a way to preserve and share this heritage, who would?
That’s why we’re here. Yes, we still speak the language of software, strategy, and innovation. But we’re also devoted to preserving olive oil craftsmanship—the same commitment to excellence that existed long before we started coding. Through every decision we make—from careful pruning methods to researching the best milling techniques—we’re weaving old-world knowledge with new-world thinking.
With our father’s wisdom, our own engineering backgrounds, and the determination sparked by countless stories and documents of Rameh’s olive oil legacy, we’ve set out to treasure, protect, and elevate this heritage. We’re determined not just to keep it alive, but to help it flourish in a world that’s rapidly changing.
Welcome to our journey—where olive groves meet innovation, and family history meets a global future. We’re excited to share this extraordinary oil, and the story behind it, with you.
