How do you actually know what really good olive oil is? That matters, because you want to get your hands on good extra virgin olive oil. After all, olive oil of the highest quality has the best taste and the most nutrients. Here’s how to spot really good extra virgin olive oil!
Method 1 – the lower the acidity, the better the quality of the olive oil
How do you spot really good extra virgin olive oil? Rule number 1 is of course to make sure you buy extra virgin olive oil. Here the olives are cold pressed just once to separate the water from the pure olive oil, so it’s completely natural! This way the olive oil contains a maximum of 0.8 percent free fatty acids. Is it higher? Then you have (virgin) olive oil, not high-quality olive oil.
More importantly: the lower the acidity, the better the quality of the olive oil. For our organic olive oil, which is extra virgin, it’s between 0.2% and 0.5%. However, this isn’t the best way to test quality. It doesn’t necessarily say anything about the taste and therefore the defects of the olive oil. Let us explain:
Method 2 – testing olive oil quality organoleptically
This means determining the quality of olive oil based on taste. A taste analysis is carried out (by an independent panel of olive oil sommeliers) that looks for positive characteristics (attributes) and negative characteristics (defects).
A very high-quality olive oil can show up to 25 different flavours, such as nuts, tomato and artichoke. There are 3 main parameters it’s tested on: fruitiness, bitterness and the peppery sensation in the throat. The higher these values, the higher the quality of the olive oil. And yes, we have every one of our olive oil harvests organoleptically tested and only select the extra virgin olive oil that meets our high quality standards.
Is extra virgin olive oil real?
Okay, but you can’t measure the acidity or do an organoleptic test yourself. So here’s how to spot really good extra virgin olive oil yourself and recognise real olive oil. There are a few ways:
1. Look, smell, taste!
Smell, taste and composition are key. If an olive oil smells overly aromatic or musty, you know the olives were left to ripen too long or the oil has been in contact with oxygen for too long. In terms of taste, a good Greek olive oil has a grassy first impression, a peppery finish and a creamy aftertaste. Is extra virgin olive oil real? You can smell and taste it!
How does that work? Well, the polyphenols, which contain the antioxidants, give it a slightly bitter note and a peppery finish. These have many health benefits. The soft, creamy aftertaste shows that the olive oil has a low percentage of saturated fatty acids and is easy for the human body to process. Based on this, you can recognise real olive oil and high-quality olive oil.
2. The production process
One of the founders of Gkazas Olive Oil, Floris, always says: “I don’t mind whether people buy beautiful olive oil from us or from someone else. What matters is that you buy the best olive oil from someone who has a passion for the craft, who is transparent about the entire production process and whom you trust.”
In other words: if you buy from a reliable farmer, supplier or brand that you know produces olive oil with passion, love and innovation, the quality is (usually) fine!
3. Read the label carefully
Finally, it’s important to read the label carefully. Is the best-before date clearly stated and is it from the most recent harvest? Then you know your olive oil will stay good for the longest (more info about storing olive oil here). An organic certification is also a plus. It means the oil was produced in an environmentally conscious and often caring way.
The label also contains other important information, or at least it should. Where does the olive oil come from? Is it single origin? Is it 100% natural and not blended with other oils? From the first pressing and cold pressed? If that and more is on there, you’re in good hands!
How do you recognise real olive oil?
That’s how to spot really good extra virgin olive oil! You’ve probably already figured it out: all of the above and more makes our organic extra virgin olive oil of the highest quality there is. But you don’t have to take our word for it that we offer the best olive oil. Our independent organoleptic tests prove it. So what are you waiting for? Head to the webshop and order that 5 litre olive oil tin.
