How to choose extra virgin olive oils

Whether you are a beginner or a pro, choosing a new olive oil can be challenging as there is a lot of choice on the market, and yet not enough information about it

Therefore here are our top ten tips for buying good quality olive oil:

1. ⁠Buy extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and not refined olive oil or anything just labelled olive oil.
2. ⁠Prefer EVOO in dark glass containers to protect the oil however storing it in a cool dark place is more important than glass colour
   
3. ⁠Prefer olive oil where you can taste it before buying it (specialised shops) or have a full description of the product on their website.
   
4. ⁠Look for a singular origin of country and not a mix of countries, some might have olive varieties listed.
   
5. ⁠Look  for PDO/PGI/Organic or Monocultivar.
   
6. ⁠Don’t buy large containers unless you use a lot of EVOO regularly as once open olive oil needs to be consumed within 2-3 months for peak freshness. If you want to get a large container then opt for BAG in BOX or ensure you decant the tin once opened.
   
7. ⁠Look for harvest date, always choose the latest harvest
   
8. ⁠Best EVOO should be harvested and pressed within few hours
   
9. ⁠After buying the sign of a good EVOO is a fruity (note of vegetables) , grassy or almond/artichoke taste , slightly bitter to the tongue, with a slight burning in the back of your throat (from the polyphenol content). Colour of EVOO is not a indicator of quality.
10. ⁠Store EVOO away from light and heat ideally as both are then enemies of EVOO and damage/reduce the polyphenols. Keep away from the stove/oven or windows where the heat exposure can damage it.

if you are still uncertain feel free to pop in our store in Borough Market for a free tasting or if you are far from it drop us an email so we can help you and guide you with the right choice!

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