Extra virgin olive oil from Greece

We’ll get straight to the point: extra virgin olive oil is the crème de la crème of olive oils. This means that the olive oil comes from the first pressing (without heating), using mechanical pressing. This results in the highest quality oil, as no chemical processes are involved. There are two conditions that extra virgin olive oil must meet. First, the acidity level must not exceed 0.8 percent. Additionally, the median score for the 12 possible defects must be 0, and the median for fruitiness must be above 0. The result is a rich flavour and an extra virgin olive oil that contains all the natural vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals. In short: the elite of olive oils!

The answer to the question of what the difference is between olive oil and extra virgin olive oil is tricky, but we’ll keep it simple and short. As explained above, you can differentiate between the different types of olive oil based on the acidity level and a score for the 12 possible defects. For extra virgin olive oil, the acidity level is below 0.8 percent, and the median score for the 12 defects is 0. For regular olive oil, the median score for defects is between 3.5 and 6. This standard olive oil has a more neutral taste than the other two types. Due to the defects present in the oil, it could even be that the taste doesn’t appeal to you… Want to know more? You can find an article here about the different types of olive oil. To really know 100% for sure the quality of an olive oil, you need organoleptic testing. You can read more about this in our article on the best olive oil.

Now, we often get asked what extra virgin olive oil and extra vergine olive oil are. Extra vierge olive oil means “more virgin than virgin,” which relates to the acidity level of less than 0.8 percent. But what is extra virgin olive oil then? Actually, it’s exactly the same as extra vierge, only “virgin” is pronounced in English, which is very similar to the Spanish way of describing this quality grade of olive oil, virgen olive oil. And what is extra vergine olive oil then? Well, that’s also the same, it’s just the Italian term for it. Clear?

Another question we’re often asked, and you’re absolutely right! And yes, extra virgin olive oil is healthy. Due to its natural and efficient production process, extra virgin olive oil contains various healthy nutrients. It has a very high content of vitamins C and E. Additionally, olive oil contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that boost the immune system, reduce joint pain, and prevent inflammation. It also contains other healthy ingredients, such as sodium and antioxidants. All in all, olive oil is a great addition to leading a healthier life. Read more about why extra virgin olive oil is healthy.

The Greeks—and also the Gkazas family—use extra virgin olive oil literally everywhere. Not only because it’s incredibly healthy, but also because the smoke point of olive oil is as high as 207 degrees Celsius! The story that harmful substances are released when heating olive oil is partly true, but only when the oil is heated one or more times to above 207 degrees Celsius can PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) be released. So, it easily beats butter, which has a smoke point of only 180 degrees. With olive oil, you have extra margin to go over the heat when frying and sautéing. Just like butter, olive oil can start to smoke if overheated. At that point, you should turn down the heat, as you’re approaching the burning point, and that’s obviously not the goal. Read more about heating olive oil here.

Extra virgin olive oil is incredibly versatile and therefore perfect for cooking. You can use it for baking, incorporate it into both cold and warm dishes, and add it as a flavour enhancer to your dressings or sauces. By the way, we have a whole magazine full of tips and delicious recipes for cooking with extra virgin olive oil.

So, be careful which one you pick, because you naturally want the best olive oil for you. For us, that means buying olive oil from a producer or farmer you trust 100%. Then it doesn’t matter if it’s Greek olive oil or one from Italy or Spain. What’s important to consider is whether you want olive oil in a tin or olive oil in a bottle. It also depends on what you plan to do with the olive oil. You know what? We have a great article about buying olive oil for you. There, we explain in 6 simple steps how you can choose the best olive oil for you!