TERMINOLOGY

Extra Virgin and Virgin Olive Oil denote oils that are completely natural and unrefined. All other oils can be assumed to be refined or to contain a proportion of refined olive oil. These blends are usually sold as Pure Olive Oil, Olive Oil or Light Olive Oil.

EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL

Natural, unrefined olive oil with a free acidity of below 0.8%, no defects and a fruity characteristic.

VIRGIN OLIVE OIL

REFINED/LIGHT OLIVE OIL

Olive oils which are defective and unfit for consumption as they are, need to undergo a refining process during which they are deodorised and bleached. The result is a tasteless, almost colourless product, which is refined olive oil.
So called Light Olive Oils are light in flavour and colour, in other words, refined olive oil. Every oil contains the same number of kilojoules; there is no oil which has fewer calories than another.

OLIVE POMACE OIL

Olive Pomace Oil is solvent extracted (chemically dissolved) from the solid press cake residue. It cannot be classified as Olive Oil, specifically not as Pomace Olive Oil which is often stated on labels.

COLD EXTRACTED

Cold Extracted or Cold Pressed indicates that milling temperatures were kept below 30ºC, preventing the destruction of the temperature sensitive vitamins, antioxidants and flavour compounds.

The best olive oil by far is therefore Cold Extracted Extra Virgin, with full retention of all the wonderful flavours and health promoting constituents. However, as with wines, good quality olive oil is defined by its chemical and physical properties as well as its aroma and flavour. The specific cultivar or blend of cultivars used, ripeness of fruit, area of origin and climate influence the aroma, flavour, colour and mouthfeel of oil. For top culinary results, match or complement the specific flavours and aromas of the oil with those of the food.