Once you’ve narrowed down your selection to high-quality olive oil, you can start thinking about where the olive oil comes from. First of all, you’ll want to ignore language like “Product of Italy” because that can mean companies are bottling olives from different parts of the world in Italy. According to Bon Appétit, to identify the actual area of origin of the olive, look for the country initials on the back of the bottle. For example, ES for Spain and IT for Italy.
That said, companies may use different varieties of olives from various locations for a batch of olive oil. The best way to make sure your olives come from the same place is to get a “proprietary oil”. The estate’s oil label means that all olives come from the same place and source, How Stuff Works explains.
Once you’ve done that, check to see if the bottle has a harvest date. Olive oil has a limited shelf life, and using the freshest olive oil possible ensures the best flavor, advises Food and Wine. Ideally, the company would proudly brag about the harvest date. They may have something to hide if no date is present. If you have older olive oil on your shelf, use it for cooking and save a newer bottle for garnishing, dipping, and drizzling.
Once you’ve narrowed down your selection to high-quality olive oil, you can start thinking about where the olive oil comes from. First of all, you’ll want to ignore language like “Product of Italy” because that can mean companies are bottling olives from different parts of the world in Italy. According to Bon Appétit, to identify the actual area of origin of the olive, look for the country initials on the back of the bottle. For example, ES for Spain and IT for Italy.
That said, companies may use different varieties of olives from various locations for a batch of olive oil. The best way to make sure your olives come from the same place is to get a “proprietary oil”. The estate’s oil label means that all olives come from the same place and source, How Stuff Works explains.
Once you’ve done that, check to see if the bottle has a harvest date. Olive oil has a limited shelf life, and using the freshest olive oil possible ensures the best flavor, advises Food and Wine. Ideally, the company would proudly brag about the harvest date. They may have something to hide if no date is present. If you have older olive oil on your shelf, use it for cooking and save a newer bottle for garnishing, dipping, and drizzling.