Favorite Olive Oil?

[Mysterian]

It's Christmas 2022, and everyone is talking about Olive Oil. Or they will be, because I've started a thread about it.

There are so many brands to choose from. Which do you prefer?

Myself, Pompeian Extra Virgin Organic (smooth or robust, either one). And if Pompeian wants to send me some for free, I wouldn't say no. (Just DM me for my address, Pompeian, and maybe throw in a shirt or something?)

 

[princesscinderella]

There’s a specialty one by actor Jean Reno who has an olive grove in Spain that they serve in Toppolinos that’s amazing. You can buy it through the Dartangnan specialty food website. I love to make fresh pesto sauce with it. It’s not one you would cook with it’s more for finishing a dish, salad, or bread dipping.

 

[Micca]

I'm no olive oil expert, so I just get the big jug at Costco--Kirkland brand. For a while it seemed like I was using olive oil all the time, now I can't remember the last time I used any.

 

[Christine]

I don't really have a favorite, I just like it be strong flavored. I don't buy from the grocery store brands as they seem refined and I think I read something a few years ago that most of the "good" stuff has been refined out of them.

I was having a lot of lot going to HomeGoods and getting a brand called Sparta. Had harvest dates/use by dates, lot numbers and either in a very dark container or a metal container. Loved that stuff, but I can't find it there anymore.

 

[bcla]

I bought some at a local farmers market that was way different than any I'd ever had before. It came from olives grown at the owner's olive ranch hundreds of miles away, although I understand that he lived nearby when he wasn't tending to his farm and pressing oil. I was only able to buy 3 bottles over two visits, but I liked it better than any other olive oil I've tried.

Certainly not something I'm likely to see again, but something I wish I could find again.

 

[bcla]

I don't really have a favorite, I just like it be strong flavored. I don't buy from the grocery store brands as they seem refined and I think I read something a few years ago that most of the "good" stuff has been refined out of them.

I was having a lot of lot going to HomeGoods and getting a brand called Sparta. Had harvest dates/use by dates, lot numbers and either in a very dark container or a metal container. Loved that stuff, but I can't find it there anymore.

Extra virgin is supposedly a similar process regardless of the olives, with no refining per se - maybe just filtering to remove chunks. It's a first press that's supposed to extract more than just the fat and includes what makes olive oil taste different than refined oil.

I guess there's a lot less of that with later pressings, so it makes more sense to refine it to remove the olive flavors and turn it into a neutral oil just like soybean/peanut/canola oils. The rationale seems to be that it's a lighter oil with mostly monounsaturated fats, with some claimed health benefits.

 

[Christine]

I bought some at a local farmers market that was way different than any I'd ever had before. It came from olives grown at the owner's olive ranch hundreds of miles away, although I understand that he lived nearby when he wasn't tending to his farm and pressing oil. I was only able to buy 3 bottles over two visits, but I liked it better than any other olive oil I've tried.

Certainly not something I'm likely to see again, but something I wish I could find again.

Probably tasted so different because it was so fresh. That's why I like looking for small batch distributors with all the dates and lots available. You can really taste the freshness in them, if that makes sense?

 

[Christine]

Extra virgin is supposedly a similar process regardless of the olives, with no refining per se - maybe just filtering to remove chunks. It's a first press that's supposed to extract more than just the fat and includes what makes olive oil taste different than refined oil.

I guess there's a lot less of that with later pressings, so it makes more sense to refine it to remove the olive flavors and turn it into a neutral oil just like soybean/peanut/canola oils. The rationale seems to be that it's a lighter oil with mostly monounsaturated fats, with some claimed health benefits.

Yes, I'm just wondering why when I buy EVOO--first press--from a major brand it doesn't really taste all that good. Just seems like a regular oil to me. It's like I have to go find these small batch companies that do limited pressings to really enjoy the oil.

 

[bcla]

Probably tasted so different because it was so fresh. That's why I like looking for small batch distributors with all the dates and lots available. You can really taste the freshness in them, if that makes sense?

I've had fresh olive oil and certainly that helps. There are other producers who sell olive oil at farmers markets in my area. But this producer used a really unique olive variety. For me it wasn't just the freshness, but that it had a different "character" to it. For me it was like waxing poetic about wine or Scotch.

 

[bcla]

Yes, I'm just wondering why when I buy EVOO--first press--from a major brand it doesn't really taste all that good. Just seems like a regular oil to me. It's like I have to go find these small batch companies that do limited pressings to really enjoy the oil.

Depends on where you live I suppose. I live in California where there are olive farms all over and there are tons of artisan producers. And of course the ones that primarily sell through farmers markets. The main issue with those are that they don't necessarily come back to the same farmers markets, could go out of business, etc.

 

[LoveSpringsteen]

I always buy what is on sale. Often Meijer has Pompeiian buy one, get one free and that is when I buy it. We use olive oil often for oven roasting vegetables or sautéing onions and garlic when starting pasta sauce.

 

[EilonwyWanderer]

Mine you can barely get anywhere: Biolea Cretan olive oil. It's SO good! Sur la Table carried it for awhile but they no longer do so I can only get it on Amazon. Unsurprisingly my husband doesn't see "I need olive oil" as a reason to plan a trip to Greece.

 

[disneyseniors]

I buy Target brand EVOO and it is delicious! I've tried other brands, but this one wins out for me.

 

[barkley]

we have a local place that does spectacular flavored ones many of which i use on veggies and meats to bbq-

meyer lemon
blood orange
rosemary.

our hands down favorite is a butter flavored-it is wonderful on everything but esp. on a turkey or whole bodied chicken.


they also make a variety of balsamic vinegars-our favorite is fig.

 

[TippyThomas]

I just buy whatever is cheapest or on sale. Maybe I haven't had a high quality olive oil and I really don't know the difference? I didn't realize there was that much of a difference in them.

 

[amcnj]

I haven’t found a must have one. Though nostalgically Filippo Berrio first comes to mind, as it was the brand my grandmother always asked for. I can still hear her saying that name. Because of that (and it having been on sale!), it happens to be the type I am currently using, though I couldn’t tell you how many years ago I last bought that brand.

 

[1420Elexismc]

The Trader Joe's brand

 

[Smugpugmug]

I've always used Filippo Berio Extra Virgin olive oil. I'm not an olive oil expert - I just like the taste of Filippo Berio and it goes on sale often.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

My sister and I take the ride to Ocean City, NJ to go to Capella's. They have all kinds of infused olive oils. We get the garlic. One bottle lasts me forever because I don't use it much, but I think my sister is making cocktails with it because she always seems to need some. It's so good! They also have an online store:

https://capellaoilandvinegars.com/shop/

 

[petrola]

my favorite. use it for dipping bread, etc. If I can't get to the Cape, I order online.

https://gustareoliveoil.com/product/herbes-de-provence/