House Olive Oil

[cosmoliu]

Whole Foods' 365 EVOO was referenced in that mashed summary referenced by @dbostedo above. Probably hard to beat for cost/convenience.

And that fraudster article. Wow...Just Wow...

 

[James]

Have you looked at this site?
What $/liter are we looking at, and are you talking 2-3 liter at a time?

Greek Olive Oil

Browse our extensive selection of premium-quality Greek olive oils from award-winning producers.

oliveoillovers.com

Many countries there, btw, I just copied the Greek one.

 

[VickieH]

Subscribe to an olive oil club. Zingerman's Rare Olive Oil Club would be interesting for someone with discerning taste buds.

 

[Tony S]

Subscribe to an olive oil club. Zingerman's Rare Olive Oil Club would be interesting for someone with discerning taste buds.

Thanks. As a wine geek I think I'm probably permanently allergic to these kinds of "clubs." But I appreciate the thought.

 

[Tony S]

Have you looked at this site?
What $/liter are we looking at, and are you talking 2-3 liter at a time?

Greek Olive Oil

Browse our extensive selection of premium-quality Greek olive oils from award-winning producers.

oliveoillovers.com

Many countries there, btw, I just copied the Greek one.

I'm not taking flyers on stuff that no one I know has actually tried. Is this a source that you know personally? Do you have specific faves?

 

[cantunamunch]

Have you looked at this site?
What $/liter are we looking at, and are you talking 2-3 liter at a time?

I'm perfectly prepared to take flyers on 2-3L at a time, especially on prices less than $15/l as those Greek ones are but I really really dislike both tins and glass.

Olive oil, especially olive oil shipped from other continents, absolutely belongs in Tetrapak.

From a purely environmental standpoint, I'd far rather buy a kiwi oil in Tetrapak than Greek in a tin or Italian in glass.

EDIT: Our nearby Harry Titter carries the Tunisian stuff @graham418 links to - in a proper lightweight package at that.

 

[dan ross]

A relevant article:

The Real Reason Your Olive Oil Is Probably Fake - Mashed

Fake olive oil has been around forever, but the reasons why your olive oil is probably fake continue to grow. This is why this fraud continues.

www.mashed.com

A lot of EVOO sold in the US is not actually EVOO... doctoring and fake EVOO are rampant.

Here's an article talking about a few that have been tested and passed as actual EVOO:

The Best Olive Oils That Won't Break The Bank - Mashed

These extra virgin olive oils have passed purity tests and get great reviews. These are the best olives oils you'll find under $25.

www.mashed.com

That list includes Kirkland and Trader Joe's, among a few others.

Yes- this was in the news a few years ago - a big scandal involving Italian organized crime. They take this stuff seriously in Italy and France- what you can call food and it’s Appellation
is a source of pride and ultimately reputation as well as the value quality can command. Protecting the brand as it were.

 

[Marker]

Lucini Premium Select EVOO is available at our grocery store and occasionally Costco. Their Everyday EVOO made the "good" list above, so I assume both are not fake. The price sure isn't fake and the flavor is very fine. This is used just for dressing salads, apps, and dipping bread.

For everyday oil we use the Kirkland brands and for cooking Berio, which I knew was not Italian olives, but I was okay with that as long as it was EVOO. Now I have my doubts.

 

[wooglin]

California brand evoo is mentioned in that “real” evoo article above, and is widely available at regular grocery stores. At least in my experience.

 

[dbostedo]

...this was in the news a few years ago...

What was interesting to me was that the big story was in 2015, so you'd think maybe things had changed. (I figured they would have...) But the article I posted confirms that more testing by the NCL n 2019, still found half the bottles tested weren't really EVOO.

 

[dan ross]

What was interesting to me was that the big story was in 2015, so you'd think maybe things had changed. (I figured they would have...) But the article I posted confirms that more testing by the NCL n 2019, still found half the bottles tested weren't really EVOO.

At this point , I just assume that store brands are not anywhere near pure olive oil. Italy’s D.O.C. labeling is something they guard aggressively with wine and cheese, I don’t understand why this is still going on with the Oil.

 

[dbostedo]

I don’t understand why this is still going on with the Oil.

...involving Italian organized crime...

 

[surfsnowgirl]

We love this stuff for pasta

Chipotle Olive Oil

Gourmet Oils and Vinegar - Virgin & Aged - Newport, Rhode Island

www.virginandaged.com

 

[dan ross]

View attachment 138599

I mean... yeah , of course but somehow if this was a widespread problem involving wine and cheese ( harder to mess with) I doubt it would still be going on. I’m sure many palms are getting greased...or oiled as it were .

 

[Tony S]

We love this stuff for pasta

Chipotle Olive Oil

Gourmet Oils and Vinegar - Virgin & Aged - Newport, Rhode Island

www.virginandaged.com

Do I not, by now, have "insufferable purist" effectively embossed into my signature?

 

[surfsnowgirl]

Do I not, by now, have "insufferable purist" effectively embossed into my signature?

Maybe, maybe not but I'm not a linear thinker so I say there's always an exception

 

[James]

What was interesting to me was that the big story was in 2015, so you'd think maybe things had changed. (I figured they would have...) But the article I posted confirms that more testing by the NCL n 2019, still found half the bottles tested weren't really EVOO.

Like doping in cycling?
I think scamming in olive oil has been around since the Romans. But there’s all types, from blatant fraud of mixing non olive oil in, to just blending in oil that’s 2-3 years old which is legal. There’s not enough olive trees in Italy to produce all the “Italian” olive oil. Most is blended, or even just bottled in Italy. Plenty of money to be made scamming olive oil, and it’s doubtful the DEA is going to drop Ninjas from a helicopter to arrest you.

Most people don’t think it degrades over time. I think once the oil has absorbed the flavor from the pulp after processing, yesterday’s oil is always better. But there’s no escaping storage to supply the world and ship. Unless you live nearby or join the “fresh pressed olive oil” club by TJ Robinson.

Apparently Australia has the highest standards and doesn’t import oils to blend. Chile is also good. Cobram estate, an Australian company, is now in California too. Never tried it.

I think southern hemisphere harvest is April- June harvest, northern is October-November.

The Best Olive Oil in the World Comes From...Australia

Hear us out on this one.

www.epicurious.com

Apparently 2020 was a bad year for Northern Italy Olives because of horrible weather like wind and hail.

Bad Weather Ahead of Harvest Dampens Spirits of Italy's Olive Oil Producers

Extreme weather events – ranging from hail storms to flash flooding – have impacted olive growers across Italy. For many farmers, hopes of a promising harvest have washed away.

www.oliveoiltimes.com

I'm not taking flyers on stuff that no one I know has actually tried. Is this a source that you know personally? Do you have specific faves?

No. The “best” oil I’ve had was probably not suited to cooking. It was from a friend who worked for an architect that I think helped restore small olive production near the ruins of Villa Adriana in Tivoli. This was 30 years ago, so they were there mid 80’s to mid 90’s, long before it was trendy. That was bright green, really peppery, and reminded you of cut grass. I had no idea olive oil was like that. As far as I can tell, the closest is Tiburtini. It may even have been that, no idea. It was bottled with a label. I did see in looking tholive prodiction has resumed around Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli.

I did come across this company. You could trace the heritage of the olives by lot number if you wanted. No idea of the taste or how old the product is when you get it.


$35/3L , $20/3L

Terra Creta Estate Greek Pure 100% Cold Extracted Extra Virgin Olive Oil PDO, 3 Liter

Buy Terra Creta Estate Greek Pure 100% Cold Extracted Extra Virgin Olive Oil PDO and other premium extra virgin olive oil products through Supermarket Italy's online grocery!

supermarketitaly.com

As for boxed organic, saw this-

$109/5liters

De Carlo Il Biologico 5L Bag-in-Box

Il Biologico is an organic oil produced from hand-picked Ogliarola and Coratina variety olives grown on Bitritto’s farmlands by trusted farmers of the De Carlo family. The olives are transported and crushed in De Carlo’s granite mill within 24 hours of harvesting. The resulting oil is...

oliveoillovers.com

$89/3liters

Iannotta Organic 3L Bag-in-Box

This oil has a fruity aroma enhanced by complex notes of grass, artichoke, green tomato and apple.

oliveoillovers.com

 

[Tony S]

No. The “best” oil I’ve had was probably not suited to cooking. It was from a friend who worked for an architect that I think helped restore small olive production near the ruins of Villa Adriana in Tivoli. This was 30 years ago, so they were there mid 80’s to mid 90’s, long before it was trendy. That was bright green, really peppery, and reminded you of cut grass. I had no idea olive oil was like that. As far as I can tell, the closest is Tiburtini. It may even have been that, no idea. It was bottled with a label. I did see in looking tholive prodiction has resumed around Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli.

James, this is fun. Thanks.

BTW, several of you did not read my OP carefully. I'm specifically NOT looking for a cooking oil.

I'm in the market for a nice affordable and available extra virgin olive oil to use "raw"' in dressings, cold sauces, and as a topping for cooked foods.

The “best” oil I’ve had was probably not suited to cooking.

 

[Wilhelmson]

I just mix it up. Market Basket still has some of its old school roots, including olive oil.

I would just sample cold apps at some nice italian restaurants and ask them about their oils.

 

[wooglin]

Used to have a place like this in my town. This one is in North Conway. Might stop by some day.

North Conway Olive Oil Comapny

Enjoy the freshest Olive Oils and Balsamic Vinegars in the world, visit our tasting bar in downtown North Conway, New Hampshire. Non-GMO verified!!

ncoliveoil.com