How to Choose the Right EVOO

Did you know Premium EVOO's each have their own flavor profiles and characteristics?

Like a fine wine, they can change with each harvest. From Fruity to pungent, Mild to Robust. Making a marinade, grilling or for the health benefits, Choose the right extra virgin olive oil and elevate your healthy lifestyle.

Let's break this down. There are two main things to keep on mind: The Flavor Attributes and the Specific Categories (pretty much, how strong it taste) they fall under. 

Positive Flavor Attributes of EVOO

Fruity: having pleasant spicy fruit flavors characteristic of fresh ripe or green olives. Ripe fruit yields oils that are milder, aromatic, buttery, and floral. Green, younger fruit yields oils that are grassy, herbaceous, bitter and pungent. Fruitiness also varies by the variety of olive.

Bitter: a positive flavor sensation that’s detected on the tongue –More prominent in olives picked when green or just turning color.  EVOO with a high polyphenol content, a natural occurring antioxidant, tend to be more bitter.

Pungent: a pleasant peppery – picante – sensation in the back of the throat. Green, early harvest,  olives tend to yield pungent oils that can cause a 1, 2 or 3 cough reaction when tasted.  Don’t let the cough deter you; pungent oil can transform a dish from ordinary to extraordinary.

EVOO Specific Categories

Delicate/Light: A delicate EVOO is made with olives harvested in the later stages of ripeness. The oil will have a smooth and buttery taste, you’ll notice a fruitiness in the nose, no bitterness at all, and a slightly peppery finish. We use this in our Aioli's

 Mild or Delicate olive oils are ideal for baking or as a substitute for butter or mayonnaise  

Medium: A medium EVOO is made with a combination of olives harvested in both the early and mid-stages of harvest. This oil offers a fruity taste, a grassy scent, and a peppery/spicy finish. The most versatile and used in most dishes, Our Infused EVOO's are created with the freshest harvest medium EVOO.

Medium intensity olive oils are great for dipping bread. A medium intensity olive oil is also fantastic to use as vinaigrette or on cooked vegetables.

Robust: A robust EVOO offers bold flavor, a balanced bitterness, and a very prominent peppery finish. You’ll also enjoy a fruity scent to the nose with this oil. This is the most doctor recommended for those "daily shots". They are known for the highest polyphenols counts! 

Robust Olive Oils are best for taking a daily shot,  cooking meat & seafood, hearty soups or in a zesty marinade.