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OLIVE OIL 101

Olive Oil Health Benefits: 5 Questions, 5 Answers.

There’s a fat lot of good olive oil can do for you. There’s also a lot of misconceptions out there. It’s time to cut through the fog and get to your burning questions. Is olive oil really *that* healthy? Yes. Yes, it is. Here’s why... Olive oil is almost 100 percent liquid fat. And in a world where the mere mention of "fat" makes many uncomfortable, it’s found itself unjustly feared. Yet, in the grand parade of fats, there are unsung heroes, and yes, extra virgin olive oil proudly leads that...

What is this white stuff in olive oil? A look at frozen EVOO.

You buy a nice bottle of olive oil, but when you take a closer look, you notice white bits floating around in it. Is this mould? Is it dangerous? Let's have a look at this common, cold-weather condition... Through that dark glass (yes, it should be dark *not* clear), you see some suspicious shapes. Small pellets, white flex, or crystal-like shapes are swimming around—and it all looks a lot like mould. But don't toss it yet! Chill out; your oil might just be a little cold. We occasionally hav...

Here’s Why You Should Be Cooking with EVOO

For years, a question has puzzled home cooks and chefs alike: ‘can I cook with olive oil?’. Traditionalists say no, health experts say yes, and people from the Mediterranean say absolutely. Let’s uncover the ancient wisdom. It's time to cook with extra virgin olive oil. For the past few decades, a simple yet confounding question has stumped home cooks and professional chefs alike: can you cook with olive oil? Traditional cooking authorities have categorically shunned the use of extra virgin ...

Don't Drizzle. Pour!: A Q&A with Johnny Madge

In the depths of early lockdown when we really couldn't leave our homes, I was desperate to taste and learn more about olive oils. We had our oil from Crete, and some others I'd been able to find in the UK, but I needed something extra... Enter Johnny Madge, an international judge and one of the leading olive oil "tasters" in the world (more on that later)—and one of the most passionate ones I've met to date. After a guided virtual tasting with a selections of oils he sent us from his favour...

Photo of Ana's regenerative olive grove in Alentejo, Portugal.

Why is regenerative farming important in olive oil?

Call it "climate-smart", "carbon farming", "land restoration", or simply "regenerative", these practices are all about a creating harmony with nature that starts with soil and builds resilience from the ground up. Spring is in the air, but unfortunately—so is the CO2... As the fields are turned over and the new planting of crops begins, research shows that higher levels of carbon are released into the air (as shown by this NASA visualisation which we first came across in the Kiss The Groun...

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How to taste extra virgin olive oil: A sommelier's guide to extra

What exactly does "extra" taste like? How do you know if what you've bought is the real deal? Here's a guide for what to look out for when trying an olive oil. So, let's pop open a new bottle, and let's explore.

Mango sorbet with olive oil

Prepare to be blown away by this flavour pairing. Sweet, fragrant mango with rich, grassy extra virgin olive oil—a dessert you won't stop thinking about. Time to get your hands on some seasonal mangos! Ok, but what is the craze all about? Well, the Alphonso variety is available only for a very short period of time each year and it has got a superior texture and flavour—you can literally taste the sun. Though not local, it is one of our favourite ultra-seasonal fruits and such a big treat. Th...

Pouring a spoon of extra virgin olive oil

5 reasons to start your day with a spoonful of EVOO

The start of the New Year is for many of us the time to reflect, set our resolutions, and create new habits. Some will meditate, some will start learning a new skill and others… will start taking a spoonful of olive oil in the morning! This oil “trend” started to emerge quite recently with celebs swearing by it. Some, like Kourtney Kardashian, shoot a spoonful of it every other day, while others, like Sophia Loren, take it to the next level by bathing in it. Beyonce consumes it so liberally...