Shopping for olive oil can be a perplexing experience. As you navigate the oil aisle, you’re confronted with a vast selection, seemingly offering the same liquid gold. But appearances can be deceiving.
While many olive oil labels display terms like “extra virgin,” “pure,” and "cold extracted" the lack of clear explanations can leave you feeling unsure about which to choose. Often, you might rely on family favorites, price, size, or what's on sale. However, understanding what some of these terms mean can significantly enhance your culinary experience.
Here are some essential terms you might encounter:
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO): This is the highest quality olive oil available. It must be extracted without heat or chemicals, producing bolder and more flavorful oil.
- Olive Oil: A general term that refers to a blend of refined olive oil and extra virgin olive oil. Refined olive oil is extracted using heat, which creates a smoother oil suitable for high-heat cooking.
- Cold Extracted/Cold Pressed: Often used to describe extra virgin olive oils, this term indicates that the oil was extracted at lower temperatures to preserve flavor and nutrients.
- Polyphenols: Natural antioxidants in extra virgin olive oil offer numerous health benefits.
- Monovarietal: This refers to olive oil made from a single variety of olive, showcasing specific flavor profiles that differ from blended oils.
Many consumers are left confused by ongoing debates and misconceptions among olive oil users, sommeliers, and researchers about the best ways to use olive oil. The good news is that you can cook with extra virgin olive oil! This confusion inspired us to explore the olive oil category further, revealing a need for innovation in how olive oil is presented.
This is where Botticelli’s Occasion-Based Olive Oils come into play. Each olive oil is crafted with specific culinary uses in mind, helping you make informed choices for your pantry. Read on to discover each occasion and why having the complete set in your kitchen is essential!
Cooking Extra Virgin Olive Oil
This balanced, medium-intensity extra virgin olive oil boasts a bright fruit flavor with subtle hints of bitterness and spice. It's your go-to oil for versatile kitchen applications, serving as a foundational ingredient for nearly any dish. Comparable to our original Extra Virgin Olive Oil, it offers a neutral, smooth profile that enhances your culinary creations.
- Key Callouts: Neutral, smooth, fruity
- Usage: Marinating, grilling, braising
With a bright, balanced flavor and subtle olive notes, this extra virgin olive oil features a light green hue and exceptional performance for baking and roasting. In many baked dishes, it’s a heart-healthy substitute for butter and canola oil. Not only is it perfect for baked goods, but it also excels at roasting your Thanksgiving turkey or savory vegetables.
- Key Callouts: Sweet, buttery, light
- Usage: Baking, broiling, roasting
Finishing Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Sourced from the freshest cold-extracted olives in exclusive regions of Italy, this oil bursts with herbaceous, fruity flavors and offers a bold, full-bodied profile that’s both complex and balanced. Rich in polyphenols, it’s ideal for finishing dishes straight from the bottle. In fact, our CEO starts each day with a spoonful!
- Key Callouts: Bold, peppery, crisp
- Usage: Dipping, dressing, drizzling
This blend of refined olive oil and extra virgin olive oil presents a neutral to balanced fruit flavor, making it perfect for achieving a crave-worthy crust and browning on your meals. Compared to our Extra Virgin Olive Oil, this oil’s higher smoke point is ideal for high-heat cooking.
- Key Callouts: Bright, balanced, mild
- Usage: Pan-frying, sautéing, searing
These occasion-specific oils are crafted based on the unique cultivars of olives used. Different olives from various Mediterranean regions impart distinct flavor profiles and intensities, resulting in sweeter or bolder oils. Through extensive research and testing, we identified the perfect cultivars to match the occasions we aimed to fulfill. Now, you can cook with olive oil, knowing more about this delicious and versatile ingredient.