Extra virgin olive oil is one of the most versatile and healthy cooking oils available. It has a pleasant flavor, adds moisture to dishes, and its high levels of monounsaturated fat mean it's heart-healthy. Choosing quality extra virgin olive oil for your kitchen can be confusing with so many products on the market, but here are some simple steps you can take to make sure you are getting pure and flavorful extra virgin olive oil:
Know Your Varietals
There are different varietals of EVOO that vary in taste depending on where they’re grown and how long they have been aged, such as fruity, buttery, peppery or pungent. To learn more about these varieties visit an olive tasting room like ours or read up online before purchasing any organic product at the grocery store.
Check The Color & Consistency
Quality olive oil must have a light hue when poured into a light source; darker shades may indicate oxidation from air exposure over time leading to rancidity problems associated with lower grades introduced by cheap production methods. Make sure there aren't any particles floating around either, it should be smooth liquid. This will tell you if contaminants were added after production too. Some producers add artificial antioxidants like Vitamin E which may not affect flavor, but efficacy could be questionable over time due to stability concerns during storage periods.
Smell & Taste Test
The smell test helps detect whether or not the contents have gone bad and start smelling sour instead of their original aroma profile while still holding true aromatic standards pertaining high grade olive oil status.. Spit out what u just tasted though.
Look For A Date Of Harvest
Seek out businesses that can share the harvest date with you or have it on their label. This date should never exceed two years. Older harvest dates don’t necessarily mean it’s bad quality though; sometimes companies use blends from multiple harvests—just keep in mind expiration timeline difference between blended versus single varietal options.
