How do you choose an olive oil?

atomcrusher said:
I only buy San Sebastian X-virgin, cold pressed. It can be bought in a 2L "ses-man-can" box wine-type dispenser, or square bottle. It's made & processed & bottled on an olive farm on the Breede River, near Cape Infanta and I think it is of of the southernmost olive producers world-wide.
Click to expand...

Price?
 
Billy said:
Take a look here:


http://beta.mnet.co.za/carteblanche/Article.aspx?Id=1821

One of the oils sent for testing to Bloemfontein - Aphrodite - contains a colourant that Lodewyk has identified as Lipo Green LT.

'According to the manufacturer, this dye is particularly developed for inclusion into petro-chemical solvents and also used, for instance, in solvents that are used in the cleaning of motor engines. So this is definitely not for food grade, this is not good or fit for human consumption or to be included in an oil like this,' he says.
Click to expand...

That was 12 years ago. I was one of the suckers that used it for more than a year.:mad:
 
jingaling said:
Olive oil in clear glass in no good as light destroys the oil's beneficial properties.
Click to expand...

That^^ is rule number one. Only buy oil in dark glass bottles, or maybe even the metal containers. I always go for something in the middle of the expensive brands. Usually between R80-100/750ml.
 
Lord Farquart said:
That^^ is rule number one. Only buy oil in dark glass bottles, or maybe even the metal containers. I always go for something in the middle of the expensive brands. Usually between R80-100/750ml.
Click to expand...

Would there be an issue if you bought the oil in a clear glass bottle but stored in a dark cupboard?
 
blunomore said:
Would there be an issue if you bought the oil in a clear glass bottle but stored in a dark cupboard?
Click to expand...
All about it here ... http://www.oliveoiltimes.com/olive-oil
Storing Olive Oil
.
Fresh extra virgin olive oil delivers a wonderful flavor and legendary health benefits. To ensure that your olive oil maintains optimum freshness and flavor, there are a few things you can do to store it properly.

Avoid Heat, Light, and Air
When olive oil is exposed to heat, light, and air the valuable nutrients in the oil begin to oxidize and it will begin to lose its fruit flavors. When buying extra virgin olive oil, look for those packaged in opaque or tinted glass. Or, try pouring olive oil into a clean used red wine bottle equipped with a spout. Do not store olive oil in plastic containers, as the oil can leach harmful substances out of the plastic.

Store your olive oil in a kitchen cabinet or another cool, dark location such as a basement or wine cellar. Keep a small container of olive oil within easy reach, and the rest of your supply tucked away to avoid repeated exposure to air. Make sure the lids of your containers fit tightly, and never store olive oil next to the stove, where it will invariably be exposed to heat.

Don’t Store Olive Oil Too Long
Olive oil should be consumed within two years of pressing. Any longer, and the flavors deteriorate and the nutrients degrade. Every month that olive oil ages, the acidity levels increase, a result of oxidization. Extra-virgin olive oils have the potential to last longer than other grades because they have a lower acidity. Buy your olive oil fresh from a supplier, or specialty retailer with high turnover. Pick a bottle from the back of the shelf where it has been shielded from harsh lights. Check the date of pressing if there is one, and abide by expiration dates. Maybe most importantly, use extra virgin olive oil liberally. You’ll have a healthier diet and your supply will always be fresh.
Click to expand...
 
Picard said:
Where is DJ... when you need him?

He screwed us royally (and himself) when he committed forum suicide with his volatile personality.
Click to expand...

Not entirely his fault, as he said he was bipolar and that is a volatile disorder to say the least.
His input will be missed.

Olive oil has been discussed. Local oils are on par with European Oils pricewise but not all quality wise which shows how much we are getting ripped off.
European Estate oils (esp Italian Tuscan are very very expensive)
If a cheap extra virgin first press olive oil comes from Italy (or any other country) that does not mean that that oil comes from that country. What happens is that all the Virgin oils from all over the EU are shipped to Italy (or whatever country its bottled or canned in) so if it's grown in spain, and the south of France shipped and bottled in Italy then it's legally Italian but its not an Italian produced oil. see. The container will say bottled in or similar language.
If you want the best every day use olive oil. First press virgin you need to see "Product of xxxx country and preferably the estate and address on the label). Right now the very best values are the 5 liter estate Agean Gold tins from Greece and another brand from Spain for R300 odd.
Never buy blended oils. ie Olive and vegetable as mentioned earlier.
 
I try to only buy local (SA) olive oils. We have some of the best olive oils in the world. I'm lucky, Hillcrest olive farm is literally up the road from me, so I buy there. The quality is astounding. Most of the spanish, italian etc. imported olive oils are so mixed that you really get a second grade product.

http://www.hillcrestfarm.co.za/olives -> R90 per l

Support local and only buy extra virgin olive oil, its worth it. :D
 
Last edited:
blunomore said:
What do they mix it with ?
Click to expand...

Grape seed oil mainly.

I usually get from vegetable shops/greengrocers and buy the tins of olive oil GALLO. I once got a birthday present - special Porra 2ltr imported olive oil. Found out the maid had been frying chips init and returning to the bottle. Now certain things are out of bounds.
 
adidas said:
I try to only buy local (SA) olive oils. We have some of the best olive oils in the world. I'm lucky, Hillcrest olive farm is literally up the road from me, so I buy there. The quality is astounding. Most of the spanish, italian etc. imported olive oils are so mixed that you really get a second grade product.

http://www.hillcrestfarm.co.za/olives -> R90 per l

Support local and only buy extra virgin olive oil, its worth it. :D
Click to expand...

Agreed!
 
adidas said:
I try to only buy local (SA) olive oils. We have some of the best olive oils in the world. I'm lucky, Hillcrest olive farm is literally up the road from me, so I buy there. The quality is astounding. Most of the spanish, italian etc. imported olive oils are so mixed that you really get a second grade product.

http://www.hillcrestfarm.co.za/olives -> R90 per l

Support local and only buy extra virgin olive oil, its worth it. :D
Click to expand...


Local oils would be easier to support if their prices were more logical. There are a couple of exceptions but for the main...overpriced and not as good as Northern Oils yet. I've been to a blind tasting and I wasnt sold on our local oils.That's just my opinion.
 
Hosehead said:
Local oils would be easier to support if their prices were more logical. There are a couple of exceptions but for the main...overpriced and not as good as Northern Oils yet. I've been to a blind tasting and I wasnt sold on our local oils.That's just my opinion.
Click to expand...

Yes, that's the problem with most local products, the price. Do yourself a favor and go to the Riebeek Kasteel Olive Festival. You get to taste and see a lot of the non-commercial olive products. http://www.capetownmagazine.com/riebeek-valley-olive-festival . I went last year, and after chatting to some of the farmers there I tried to stick to local.
 
+1 for sticking to locally produced olive oil.

Lately some of the producers have been using plastic bottles but I still prefer glass.


adidas said:
I try to only buy local (SA) olive oils. We have some of the best olive oils in the world. I'm lucky, Hillcrest olive farm is literally up the road from me, so I buy there. The quality is astounding. Most of the spanish, italian etc. imported olive oils are so mixed that you really get a second grade product.

http://www.hillcrestfarm.co.za/olives -> R90 per l

Support local and only buy extra virgin olive oil, its worth it. :D
Click to expand...
 
T-Man said:
+1 for sticking to locally produced olive oil.

Lately some of the producers have been using plastic bottles but I still prefer glass.
Click to expand...


I wish people would hand over their wallets sight unseen buy more local regardless of quality as that would free up decent Spanish oil for the rest of us to stockpile. The bad news is their harvest is waaay waay down this year due to no rain. Barely going to cover the Spanish needs, let alone their exports. But South African oil I'll bet they won't be importing.

One reason I won't support local is this
In an attempt to shield the country’s approximate 75 producers against the backdrop of cheap imports, the industry has applied to the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) for a Countervailing Duty to be introduced.
Click to expand...

So the locals already with high prices want to make imported oils even more expensive so they can move the local stuff. SA Olive Mafia B*tards

Latest from your Local friendly Olive oil Mafia http://www.oliveoiltimes.com/olive-...africa-olive-oil-producers-seek-reforms/34268
 
Last edited:
I look for "extra virgin - cold pressed" and then just narrow it down based on appearance from there. EDIT: And of course price
 
Hosehead said:
Happy to support local but locals must make quality and price well worthwhile.
Click to expand...

The local quality is some of the highest in the world. A lot of imported olive oils from spain and a few other places have been tested to include seed oil to dilute it, even if advertised as extra virgin, and have been sitting on shelves for ages.
 
While "Local is Lekker" is a good thing, when local producers restrict imports or monopolise a market to keep prices high then they can go frig themselves.
Then simply on principle i wont buy local.

My local Spar carries Pietro Coricelli, Olitalia, and RS-Rafael Salgado normal olive oil and Extra Virgin brands for under R100 per 1 Litre bottles.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X