Have you ever stood in the grocery aisle, overwhelmed by rows of olive oil bottles, wondering which one truly delivers the quality your dishes deserve?
At Morella Grove, we believe every drizzle of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) should embody the highest standards—rich in flavour, bursting with health benefits, and steeped in authenticity.
So, how can you tell if extra virgin olive oil is high quality?
This guide unpacks the secrets of premium EVOO, so you can shop with confidence and enjoy a taste of liquid gold, just like our award-winning oil from the heart of Australia’s Riverina region.
You'll become an olive oil connoisseur, choosing the best for delicious food and better health and learn what to look for when buying your next bottle of extra virgin olive oil.
How Can You Tell if Extra Virgin Olive Oil Is High Quality
It’s not just about taste—quality EVOO stands out for its freshness, authenticity, and nutritional value. You deserve olive oil as rich and vibrant as the Australian landscape, so here’s what to look for when choosing your next bottle.
1. Decoding the Labels: Clues to Quality
Labels can tell a story, but not all stories are truthful. Here’s what matters:
Extra Virgin
This is more than a marketing term. "Extra virgin" means the oil is made with precise practices – no heat, no chemicals, just pure, cold-pressed goodness.
Authentic extra virgin olive oil must also meet strict chemical and sensory standards, including low free acidity (under 0.8%).
At Morella Grove, we go the extra mile to ensure our oils exceed these standards. Sadly, “extra virgin” fraud (globally) is a longstanding consumer issue as exposed by Tom Mueller, author of *Extra Virginity*, who highlighted these challenges in this New Yorker article. It's an older article but the issues are still relevant, as this more recent article explores.
Harvest Date
The harvest date indicates the olive's freshness. It’s like a "born-on" date for the fruit. Newer is better because olive oil can oxidise, losing quality if enough time passes.
Origin and Estate Details
EVOO from a single estate or region, like our oils from the Riverina, often delivers unique, rich flavours. Blended oils, on the other hand, can obscure quality and origins. Always choose transparency over ambiguity.
Certification
Third-party seals, like the Australian Olive Association (AOA) certification mark and the Olives New Zealand OliveMark Seal, can offer some assurance of quality and certain criteria being met.
2. Engage Your Senses: How to Spot Quality EVOO
Once you have a bottle of extra virgin olive oil, engage your senses of smell, taste, and sight to help evaluate its quality.
The Look
Colour is deceptive. Golden-green hues are common, but deep green doesn’t guarantee quality.
Deep green often comes from chlorophyll in riper olives, rather than any additional or superior health benefits. Oxidation, light exposure, and storage time also influence colour.
Dark coloured glass bottles help protect against UV rays and prevent oxidation to preserve the extra virgin olive oil’s freshness.
The Smell
Warm a small amount of olive oil in your palm. This releases subtle aromas reflecting the olive variety. Authentic EVOO should release vibrant aromas like fresh grass, green apples, or even tomatoes, whereas a peppery sensation in the throat can indicate high antioxidant content.
Pay attention to how your body reacts as an extra gauge to understand whether the oil is good quality.
The Taste
Quality extra virgin olive oil dances around different parts of your palate. Bitterness at the back, fruitiness mid-tongue, and peppery notes at the front create complexity.
Look for a pleasant pungency, throat itchiness, and other signs that show there’s likely powerful antioxidants within the oil. These flavours should harmonise, not clash.
Allow for some variation too between different extra virgin olive oils you may try, as they will have different flavour profiles. Some oils might complement meat and nuts better, while others may be better at enhancing seafood.
Trust your preferences and discover profiles that elevate your meals.
Metallic, rancid, or flavourless notes signal lower quality.
Why Choose Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oil?
While places in the Mediterranean like Tuscany and Spain often dominate the conversation, Australia is quickly becoming a global leader in premium EVOO.
At Morella Grove, we’re proud to grow our olives in the sun-drenched Riverina, a region celebrated for its fertile soil and ideal Mediterranean-like climate. Our oils capture the spirit of this land, offering unparalleled freshness and flavour.
FAQs
FAQ 1: How do you know if extra virgin olive oil is good?
Look beyond marketing. Ask the producer for the harvest date, look for a dark glass bottle, any official certifications, and specific, transparent origins. Trust your senses; the taste and aroma should resonate without harsh or flat profiles.
FAQ 2: Is it okay to buy olive oil in a plastic bottle?
Choose dark glass bottles. These help protect against UV rays, which can diminish aromas and cause oxidative damage. Light exposure, fluctuating temperatures, and even plastic can degrade EVOO quality and impact oil colour, altering its delicate to complex flavour profile.
Prioritising dark glass demonstrates a commitment to freshness and a high-quality olive product.
FAQ 3: What is the difference between cheap and expensive extra virgin olive oil?
Cheap EVOO may use less fresh ingredients, even oxidised oil for colour. They may also add oil blends to cut costs.
High quality has its price. It reflects the care taken throughout the entire process, from the olive tree to the bottled oil product.
Experience the Difference with Morella Grove
Choosing high-quality extra virgin olive oil isn’t just about flavour—it’s about supporting ethical practices, enjoying health benefits, and elevating every dish you create. At Morella Grove, we craft our oil with love, care, and a commitment to excellence.
Explore our range of award-winning EVOO today and taste the difference that authenticity brings. Every bottle tells the story of the Riverina, and every drizzle is a testament to quality you can trust.
