Olive Oil: Which Has The Best Flavour?

[mawnansmiff]

For my olive oil needs I've always used either Filippo Berio or Bertolli extra virgin oil.

I always assumed I was using Italian/Spanish oil but the small print informs me that they are blends from different country's oil crops. I was quite disappointed with this.

I've never knowingly tried Greek oil nor Tunisian oil but I read that (quite understandably) they have distinctive tastes.

I love the floral tones of the oil that I use but would be interested in trying other E/V oil so any suggestions wold be most welcome, moreso if some idea of how they taste is included.

Jay.

 

[Sigmund]

We get ours from down in Southern Spain where the crops are. Its rich and cloudy. I dont recall the name, my brother in law gets it. Its probably no help anyway because what they make gets sold within the country. Typically the oil from Italy is a little lighter and not as full of a flavor.

 

[briarblues]

Buying pure olive oil can be a challenge. Reading the label closely is paramount. Extra virgin, non blended, and Organic are things to look for. One "trick" to figure out if what's in the bottle is only olive oil is, to put it in the fridge overnight. If it gets "cloudy" it's only olive oil. If not it has other oils added.

I purchase DOP ( certified Italian ) olive oils only. I believe California also has certifications for pure non blended olive oil as well, but that I have not researched.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

I'm fan of Kalamata Olives and Olis from the Isle of Creta (Greece

 

[didimauw]

Apparently, there's an olive oil bar in Wisconsin. You go there, and get flights of olive oil to drink. Seriously. It's a thing.

No thanks.

 

[captpat]

We've preferred Bertolli Extra Virgin, didn't occur to us to read the label, who knew there were other oils in there? Off to see if we can find a more pure version here in NC, using the advice provided by @briarblues

 

[originalnutcracker]

As didimauw says - there a lot of small shops specializing in oils and vinegars - trying different regions and even single grove bottlings proves very interesting.

Much like wine, the different varieties and terroir make a huge difference to flavours. It is absolutely a thing. With a slice of sourdough or a light salad, this can be a fantastic experience.

For general cooking, bulk EVOO is just fine....

 

[briarblues]

For general cooking at medium or low heat olive oil is excellent. Not high heat though. For high heat I lean towards butter, avocado oil, or coconut oil, and on all three you still need to read the label. Not all oils are what the large print states.

For general cooking, as silly as this may sound, Costco's Kirkland brand is very good. For anything "special" I use one of these.

The Barbera I use for salads. The Partanna has a hint more "zing", so I use this for zesty pasta sauces.

 

[kcghost]

I have used the same ones you using and have never had a problem.

 

[andrew]

You really have to watch with olive oil. The mafia has turned it into a racket and very few olive oils are pure. It's not other olive oil it's blended with, it's cheaper seed oils. I can almost guarantee bertolii is one of the ones that isn't pure

 

[Sigmund]

Honestly, for cooking there is little difference in the brands if its real stuff. The big difference is when you use it on food...salads, tomatoes etc...

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

I have a coworker who is originally from Algeria, he returns there every year for the olive harvest/press. He brings me back a half gallon oil fresh off the press and it's in a league of its own. I honestly cannot compare it to anything I've ever bought in a store.

 

[El Capitán]

I buy pure Spanish olive oil. I cook alot of cuban dishes and the oil has a distinct taste that pairs well with all Hispanic foods.

 

[mawnansmiff]

didn't occur to us to read the label,

I read this yesterday which was an eye opener....

"The suit had alleged that it was misleading for Bertolli to advertise its olive oil as being "Imported from Italy" when the oils actually came from olives grown and pressed in Greece, Chile, Spain, Australia, Turkey, and Tunisia, and had merely been mixed and bottled in Italy".

"Some controversy emerged in 2010 when Bertolli Extra Virgin Olive Oil was identified as one of the olive oils mislabeled as extra virgin in a study by University of California, Davis.[17]

In 2018, parent company Deoleo agreed to pay a US$7 million settlement[18] to resolve a class action lawsuit which had alleged that the company had misrepresented Bertolli olive oil, and committed to undertake several actions to correct such misrepresentation".

Bertolli - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Jay.

 

[Sigmund]

Nothing like good old fashioned corporate greed.

 

[serpentx]

I have a coworker who is originally from Algeria, he returns there every year for the olive harvest/press. He brings me back a half gallon oil fresh off the press and it's in a league of its own. I honestly cannot compare it to anything I've ever bought in a store.

Maybe it's got briar sap in it

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

Maybe it's got briar sap in it

Mmmm, delicious...

 

[camaguey]

The best i have ever tried are from small producers. Catalunya have a distinct olive oil that goes very well with bread. The Seville style is different , stronger taste , specially the one from Huelva. In Italy i prefer the one from Puglia. California also makes a good one. Here in USA , i usually consume Kirkland from Costco because is the best price/value i can find.

 

[canucklehead]

For cooking (I use a lot) I usually use Gallo because it's the least expensive one that still tastes like olive oil to me. I also use Kirkland or Terra Delyssa. If I'm feeling fancy I'll get something nicer (like what Mike posted) from the Italian Center grocery store closest to me to dip bread in.

 

[briarblues]

For cooking (I use a lot) I usually use Gallo because it's the least expensive one that still tastes like olive oil to me. I also use Kirkland or Terra Delyssa. If I'm feeling fancy I'll get something nicer (like what Mike posted) from the Italian Center grocery store closest to me to dip bread in.

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I guess I'm extra lucky. Only an hour away from me is Bosa Foods a large importer of Italian ingredients. Their selection of olive oils etc takes ones breathe away. When I am there I wait and watch what the Italian Nonna's buy.....