The Five Things That Matter
- ▪Harvest date within the last 18 months
- ▪Country (and ideally region) of origin clearly stated
- ▪Dark glass or tin packaging
- ▪'Extra virgin' grade, not 'pure' or 'light'
- ▪Reasonable price relative to claims (under $10 for 'Italian EVOO' is suspect)
Decoding the Label
Real EVOO labels show harvest date, origin, varietal, and acidity. Generic terms like 'imported from Italy' or 'product of EU' are warning signs — they often mean blended oils of unclear origin.
Protected designations (DOP, IGP in Europe; PDO globally) guarantee specific regional sourcing and methods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is supermarket olive oil real?
Some is. Many premium-priced supermarket olive oils are blended, mislabeled, or past their peak. Look for harvest dates, dark packaging, and named producers — those signal the real thing.
What does 'first cold-pressed' mean?
Historically, it meant the first mechanical pressing without heat. Today, modern centrifuge extraction has replaced pressing, so the term is largely a marketing relic. 'Extra virgin' is the meaningful grade.