Top 10 Olive Oils

Olive oil is a unique gift from nature. This fragrant product, filled with the bright southern sun, can be useful in any of its qualities. The oil is actively used for the preparation of delicious and nutritious dishes, it is used in cosmetology, alternative medicine and dietetics. Due to its composition, which is dominated by oleic acid, olive juice is able to significantly strengthen the human body, prolonging its performance and youth for many years. In addition, the oil contains such vital fatty acids as Omega-3 and Omega-6, as well as phytosterols, vitamins A, D, E, K.

Of all the characteristics of "liquid gold", only one can be conditionally called a drawback - this is the price. Indeed, olive oil is the most expensive vegetable oil, and this is explained not only by its high demand, but also by the laboriousness of the process of collecting and processing fruits, as well as the large amount of raw materials required for preparation.

Olive oil is not produced in Russia, therefore, only foreign bottled goods are available for sale. How to make sense of the variety of bottles with the inscription "Olive Oil", because in the supermarket you are unlikely to be allowed to taste the product. Here are some tips to help you navigate and choose the best olive oil for your table.

• Processing type. The highest quality is the first cold pressed oil, extracted by mechanical processing of olives (that is, by hand). On the label, this variety is denoted by the phrase Extra Virgin.
• Package. The sun's rays negatively affect the quality of any fats, impairing their organoleptic characteristics. Choose olive oil packaged in opaque glass or tin cans.
• Production region. Despite the fact that the olive growing area is quite extensive, experts identify three countries in which the best olive oil is produced. These are Greece, Spain and Italy. The next positions are occupied by France, Tunisia, Turkey and Egypt.

Our review of olive oils includes the most popular brands, the reputation of which allows us not to doubt the quality of the products they sell. When making the rating, we took into account such characteristics as composition, environmental friendliness, taste, color, smell, consistency, country of origin, and also took into account the ratio of volume and cost of the finished product.

The best olive oil produced in Spain

Spain is one of the leaders in the production and export of Extra Virgin olive oil. There are about 30 regions in the country, where this high-quality product has been produced for many hundreds of years, and this happens under strict state control. The taste of Spanish oil is as close to natural as possible, it is the most intense and spicy, it has a bright aftertaste.

4 IBERICA OLIVE POMACE OIL

The IBERICA trademark produces products, many of which have no analogues on the Russian market. The large assortment includes premium-class products and products of a more budgetary segment, but the difference in price does not in any way affect the quality characteristics.

One example of a product with a democratic value can be IBERICA OLIVE POMACE OIL - oil, which contains 85% refined and 15% Extra Virgin. This fresh juice is obtained after combining the second pressing of the fruits of the olive tree, during which a technology that allows high-temperature processing is used, and the Extra Virgen unrefined oil. As a result of this process, the total acidity of the liquid decreases, and the necessary vitamins and minerals are returned to the composition, but in a slightly smaller amount.

This oil is ideal for large quantities. For example, to deep-fry vegetables or deep-fried cheese, which you would regret wasting a more expensive product.

3 MAESTRO De OLIVA EXTRA VERGINE

Maestro de Oliva is a brand of the renowned Spanish food company Olive Line International S.L. Products of this brand can be bought in almost all regions of Russia. Their assortment is quite wide and includes, in addition to natural vegetable fats, a wide variety of Mediterranean snacks, seafood delicacies, different varieties of canned olives and olives.

Olive oil Maestro De Oliva Extra Virgin unrefined for its high quality and original taste was awarded a prestigious award given by the International Institute of Taste and Quality (iTQi). Information about this fact is located right on the label and confirms that the biological composition meets all international norms and standards. Blanqueta olives grown in Valencia and Alicante are used as raw materials for the production of oil. Maestro De Oliva Extra Virgin does not have a bitter aftertaste, although, like any “live” product from natural raw materials, it can change its taste characteristics within the limits of acceptable standards.

2 ITLV CLASICO

The ITLV (Industrial Technologica Laintex Veterani) brand was specially developed by Borges for the sale of olives and vegetable fats on the Russian, CIS and Baltic markets. The goal of the company is long-term cooperation, therefore, in order not to lose the love and respect of the Russian consumer, the quality of products supplied by ITLV is always close to perfection.

ITLV Clasico is a blend of refined and unrefined oils. The liquid has a universal character, it can be used as an additive to ready-made dishes, and directly for frying meat, fish or vegetables. It is a natural ecological product without artificial additives, flavors and preservatives. It has a high smoke point, due to which a delicious crust is formed during heat treatment without the risk of burning.

The combination of two types of oils helped to reduce the natural bitterness of plant materials, so ITLV Clasico is ideal for people who do not like the astringency of natural olive.

1 BORGES EXTRA VIRGIN

Borges brand products occupy about 60% of the Russian olive oil market. Founded in 1914, the company has been successfully developing all these years, and now it is one of the world leaders in the manufacture of natural food products.

BORGES EXTRA VIRGIN oil belongs to the unrefined grade obtained as a result of mechanical first pressing. During its production, the raw materials were not exposed to high temperatures, which made it possible to maximally preserve all the benefits and freshness of the olives. The taste of the product may vary depending on the type of fruit and the weather conditions of the region where it was harvested and pressed. Most often, it ranges from neutral to bitter.

BORGES EXTRA VIRGIN is ideal for dressing salads and ready meals. It is packed in glass bottles with a volume of 250, 500, 750 ml, cans of 1 l, and plastic containers of 1.3 l.

The best olive oil made in Italy

Producers of Italian olive oil are sure that their products are the benchmark, and significantly differ from the products of other countries in their high quality and rich flavor bouquet. The reason for such a statement can be not only the experience of local craftsmen, but also the huge variety of varieties of olive trees grown in the country, which allows each province to have its own, unique taste of olive oil.

3 BIONATURAE ORGANIC EXTRA VERGINE OLIVE OIL

A distinctive feature of organic ORGANIC EXTRA VERGINE OLIVE OIL from BIONATURAE is its authenticity. The product is made strictly according to old recipes and technologies that are carefully passed down from generation to generation, allowing a modern person to enjoy the truly natural taste of the olive tree.

The oil contains a mixture of the juice of five different varieties of olives grown on small family farms in Italy. The berries are picked by hand and at the very moment when they are fully ripe and ready to generously share their freshness and benefits with people.The natural naturalness and special aroma of olives ripened under the generous Mediterranean sun make this oil one of the best in the organic category. It is an excellent addition to any kind of food and an irreplaceable component of dietary nutrition.

2 ALCE NERO EXTRA VERGINE DI OLIVA DOP

Alce Nero is a renowned Italian natural food company. The company has a European quality certificate, which allows it to indicate the EU Organic Bio label on its products. The production of the company does not use genetic engineering techniques, and it is forbidden to use harmful chemicals on the fields of Alce Nero. fertilizers and pesticides.

The Italian oil EXTRA VERGINE DI OLIVA DOP ALCE NERO is made from olives that were grown, harvested and processed in the same geographic region. The absence of transportation and the minimum period of time from collection to filling guarantees a high quality product that does not lose even a fraction of its value.

The oil with an exciting bitter tint of fresh herbs perfectly meets the needs of the most demanding gourmets. The liquid is delivered in tinted glass bottles, with a volume of 750 ml.

1 MONINI EXTRA VIRGIN PESTO

The history of one of the flagships of the Italian food industry begins in 1920, when its founder, Zefferino Monini, returned from military service to his small town in the Umbria region. Created as a family business, today Monini is a world-famous brand that produces about 20 product variants, exporting its products to more than 50 countries.

The highlight of the company's product range is a special line of flavored olive oils, which are supplemented with natural spices, dry vegetables, mushrooms, nuts or herbs for added piquancy. MONINI EXTRA VIRGIN PESTO is a cold-pressed oil containing, along with the juice of high-quality olives, crushed basil sprigs and pine nuts. Additional natural ingredients give the product a unique exquisite taste, and allow it to be successfully used for the preparation of traditional homemade pesto sauce - a classic of Italian cuisine.

The best olive oil produced in Greece

Greece is a small homeland of olive oil. The inhabitants of this particular country were once the first to appreciate its exceptional taste and notice the ability to have a beneficial effect on the human body as a whole. Due to the variety of climatic conditions inherent in different regions of Greece, the structure of the produced product can vary greatly depending on the region where the olive grows. The best oil from Greece has a bright rich taste with honey-fruity notes.

3 KURTES EXTRA VIRGIN PDO

It is known that the ancient Greeks revered olive juice not only as a delicious food supplement, but also attributed to it the properties of curing a lot of ailments, especially those associated with the activity of the digestive system. And until today, the use of high-quality olive oil for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes is no less important.

A small family-owned manufactory called KURTES is located in Crete and focuses on the production of exclusive, environmentally friendly products that can be used both in cooking and for general health improvement. KURTES EXTRA VIRGIN oil has a PDO certificate, which means that the whole process of its production was carried out strictly at the place of collection of raw materials. The acidity level declared by the manufacturer is 0.2-0.3%, which is significantly lower than the recommended rate of 1% and characterizes the oil as a high-quality product, ideal for people with gastrointestinal problems.

The oil is supplied in glass and tin containers of 100, 250, 500, 1000 and 3000 ml. Price - from 210 rubles. for the smallest bottle.

2 GAEA GREEN & FRUITY

GAEA's Greek olive oils are among the most titled in the world.The products of this brand have won many awards, including such prestigious ones as a gold medal at the International Competition in Japan and Germany, the title of the most innovative product in Greece, first prizes and awards of many other international competitions.

GAEA GREEN & FRUITY oil is made mechanically from selected fruits of the Koroneiki variety. The trees growing in the Sitia region, where the optimal weather conditions prevail for olive growth, bear fruit with delicious oil berries. The olives are harvested and processed by hand, resulting in a thick, high-quality juice with a high concentration of beneficial compounds. The taste of the liquid is very rich, tart, with a slight bitterness. The consistency is thick, the color is emerald green.

The oil is poured into half-liter containers made of dark thick-walled glass. The original design of the bottle creates the feeling of owning a real rustic product.

1 MINERVA KALAMATA EXTRA VIRGIN

Minerva entered the Greek market in 1900. Within a few years, the range of the brand's products went beyond the scope of domestic trade and began to conquer the hearts and stomachs of residents of several continents at once. Minerva Olive Oil is the standard of traditional Greek cuisine, combining ancient recipes with innovative technologies.

Minerva Kalamata Extra Virgin comes to our counters from the Peloponnese, Kalamata region, which is considered one of the priority areas in the world for the best varieties of olives. The main advantages of butter, according to buyers, are that it tastes good, does not taste bitter, and is great for both frying and cold dishes, side dishes, pasta and fresh vegetables. Lovers of healthy food also noted the affordable cost of the product, which in no way affects its high quality.

The oil is poured into opaque tin containers with a volume of 750 ml or more. This creates ideal conditions for storage and transportation. Price - from 650 rubles. for the can.