4 Ways to Recognize a High-quality
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Extra virgin olive oil is not just a condiment, but also a complete food for its unique properties and taste that can satisfy every palate.
But how can we know when an extra virgin olive oil is high-quality?
Here are four simple ways to recognize high-quality EVOO and avoid nasty surprises during the purchase:
1) Read the label
When buying EVOO, it is essential to stop and analyze the label carefully. This is a crucial source of information on the product and must be considered as the starting point to understand if the oil is good or not.
The place of origin must, in fact, be present on the label (thanks to which the consumer can know where the olives used to produce the oil come from), the minimum term of consumption (important to know until when the oil can be consumed) and the production campaign (essential to know when it was produced).
By analyzing this information, the consumer can thus get a first idea of the product based on objective considerations related to the product’s origin and durability.
2) Check the bottle has an anti-refilling cap
Checking the cap of a bottle of EVOO is a necessary action to evaluate any tampering.
It is of fundamental importance that the cap of the bottle of EVOO is an anti-topping cap, a particular type of cap that prevents the bottle, once empty, from being topped up with a different oil.
The anti-refill cap is essential to the consumer to avoid frauds and to guarantee that the product is intact.
2) Check the bottle has an anti-refilling cap
Checking the cap of a bottle of EVOO is a necessary action to evaluate any tampering.
It is of fundamental importance that the cap of the bottle of EVOO is an anti-topping cap, a particular type of cap that prevents the bottle, once empty, from being topped up with a different oil.
The anti-refill cap is essential to the consumer to avoid frauds and to guarantee that the product is intact.
3) The importance of the container
The material of the EVOO container is another thing to consider when purchasing.
Extra virgin olive oil should be stored in a container that protects it from light and oxygen to keep all its properties and characteristics intact.
To do this, the most suitable materials are metal containers, dark glass bottles, or specific porcelain containers.
It is important not to buy extra virgin oils sold in plastic containers because it does not guarantee adequate product protection.
4) Quality has its price
A quality extra virgin olive oil must have a fair price.
The cost of a good quality extra virgin olive oil is justified by using the right raw materials and the high standards applied to the production methods.
Cheap oils may hide a low-quality product or less care in the production process.
So be wary of excessively cheap EVOO because the low cost could be at the expense of quality.