13 best olive oils

Residents of Russia are familiar with olive oil not so long ago, so few people know the varieties, categories and other selection criteria. Since the product is useful not only as an additive in food, but also as a cosmetic product, the interest on the part of buyers is high. In this article we will talk about the main characteristics for which you should choose olive oil, as well as present a rating review.

Based on user reviews, our experts have compiled a rating that includes the 13 best olive oils.

How to choose olive oil

1. Method of obtaining. The oils are distinguished by markings that speak about the method of preparation, and therefore, about the taste of the product. Virgin is a cold first spin. Nutrients, vitamins and minerals are preserved. Shelf life is modest, but despite this drawback, most housewives are convinced that such oil is the best. It is divided into: Extra virgin olive oil - the best product with an acidity of 0.8 percent; Virgin olive oil - an oil with acidity of 2 percent, subjected to physical, thermal and mechanical stress. Cleaning is done exclusively with natural ingredients; Ordinary virgin olive oil - acidity is 3.3 percent. Refined - cleaned using chemical-physical processes. The ground fruits are poured with hexane, after which oil is released. Solvent residues are removed with water vapor and alkali. At the end, whitening and deodorization are carried out. It is divided into: Refined olive oil - lower quality with an acidity of 0.3 percent; Olive-pomace oil - a mixture of oils: refined and first pressing (acidity - 1 percent); Refined olive-pomace oil - made from oilcake with the help of refining (acidity - 0.3 percent). Pomace - the second spin with the use of chemical and physical technologies.
2. Olive Cultivation Area. Color, taste, aroma and other characteristics of the finished product depend on this criterion. Before buying, consult with the seller or look for information on the Internet to better get acquainted with the peculiarities of a particular olive variety grown in different areas of Spain, Italy, Greece.
3. Colour. The parameter is affected by the variety, maturity and the way the fruit is processed. There are green and yellow shades.
4. Acidity. Shows the level of oleic acid in 100 g of the product. The taste is not reflected, but experts believe that the low acidity of the most high-quality olive oils.
5. Aroma. Hydrocarbon, alcohol, esters, aldehydes - are special substances that determine the smell. It is bad if there is no aroma at all, because it means that the oil was most likely exposed to the sun for too long.
6. Taste. Natural olive oils have an intense, rich, sweet bitter or salty taste. Refuse to buy a product with a watery, rancid, metallic and vinegar flavor.
7. Shelf life. Look at the date of the spill. The fresher, the better the quality. Reserve to buy olive oil is not recommended.
8. The presence of sediment. Large flakes on the bottom that appear when the product is stored in the refrigerator should not be taken as an indicator of deterioration. On the contrary, this indicates that the oil is genuine and of high quality. When warming flakes disappear.
9. Packing material. Buy the product only in glass or metal containers. Olive oil is able to split the top layer of polyethylene, which is why harmful substances get into the food. Therefore, plastic bottles are not used for packing and storage.

Top Olive Oil Ratings

Nomination	a place	Name of product	price for 1 liter
Best Italian Olive Oil	1	Frantoi Cutrera Extra Vergine	1 139 ₽
	2	Casa Rinaldi Puglia Extra Vergine	1 428 ₽
	3	Alce Nero Extra Vergine Di Oliva DOP	1 344 ₽
	4	Monini extra virgin	853 ₽
Best Spanish Olive Oil	1	Suerte Alta Picual Extra Virgin	909 ₽
	2	Deortegas Picual Extra Virgin	1 149 ₽
	3	Borges Extra Virgin	990 ₽
	4	Iberica extra virgin	870 ₽
Best Greek Olive Oil	1	Cretel P.D.O. Messara Extra Virgin	1 280 ₽
	2	Minerva Kalamata Extra Virgin	949 ₽
	3	GAEA Green & Fruity	1 400 ₽
	4	Delphi Extra Virgin	1 250 ₽
	5	Glafkos Extra Virgin	1 260 ₽

Best Italian Olive Oil

Frantoi Cutrera Extra Vergine

Rating: 4.9

The first in the rating category is unrefined olive oil from Sicily. It is made from the first October olive harvest. It is bottled immediately after squeezing, thereby maintaining a pleasant aroma and excellent taste. The product is recommended for a healthy diet, as well as for use in cosmetology. The title of "best" is confirmed by a gold medal received in 2017. Experts praised the quality of the oil, recognizing the product exemplary. Users in the reviews also do not skimp on the praise, noting the correct aroma and delicate, sweet-bitter taste.

Casa Rinaldi Puglia Extra Vergine

Rating: 4.8

The second line of the rating goes to unfiltered olive oil from a place called Apulia. The product belongs to the elite category, since the indicator of the maximum content of saturated fatty acids is quite high, and the acidity, on the contrary, is low and amounts to 0.8 percent. The product is not subjected to chemical and / or heat treatment during production, therefore it retains useful substances. Users note that the oil is sparse, fluid and, despite the bitterness, has a pleasant taste that complements the dishes of meat and vegetables.

Alce Nero Extra Vergine Di Oliva DOP

Rating: 4.7

The third position in the ranking is unrefined olive oil of the cold first spin. Made from fruits that are grown, harvested and processed in a particular region, as indicated by the reduction in DOP. Due to the lack of transportation and the minimum period of time elapsed from the moment of collection directly to bottling, the product retains its nutritional value. The Italian company Alce Nero has not been producing natural products for the first decade. The company is the holder of a quality certificate of the European sample, which makes it possible to put EU Organic Bio on the goods. Genetic engineering is not used in production, and the use of pesticides and hazardous chemical fertilizers is unacceptable in the fields.

Monini extra virgin

Rating: 4.7

The fourth is unrefined olive oil of the first cold-pressed. Monini still remains family-owned, which is reflected in the approach to manufacturing and, as a consequence, in product quality. The owner tastes and selects the oil before bottling and sending for sale. In the fields where olives grow, harmful chemical fertilizers and pesticides are not used. The fruits are harvested by hand, after which they are squeezed by cold pressing. Monini is the flagship of the Italian food industry with a rich history that dates back to 1920. Products are delivered in more than fifty countries. A special feature is the addition of natural spices, mushrooms, dried vegetables, herbs or nuts.

Best Spanish Olive Oil

Suerte Alta Picual Extra Virgin

Rating: 4.9

The first in the rating category is unrefined olive oil of the first cold-pressed. Refers to premium class. According to Spanish regulations, the product is considered therapeutic. The oil is made from the fruits of the early harvest in the region of Baena. Used grade Pikual. Suerte Alta was founded in the early twenties, and at the end of the nineties officially began to conduct agriculture with an organic bias, which is confirmed by the certificate of the Council of Organic Farming of Andalusia, as well as similar documents of Japan, America and the Council of Europe.

Deortegas Picual Extra Virgin

Rating: 4.8

The second line goes to the unrefined olive oil of the first cold press. Differs in new taste from a blend of grades Pikual and Arbekina. Product acidity - 0.2 percent (curative). Users note a soft, delicate, sweetish taste with notes of artichokes and almonds. Oil is produced in Spain, on a family farm, in the region of Murcia. Olive groves grow in an area 800 meters above sea level. Environmental friendliness is confirmed by the certificate of the regional government and the European Organic Agriculture Committee.

Borges Extra Virgin

Rating: 4.8

The third position receives unrefined first cold pressed olive oil. In the production process, olives are not exposed to temperature, which saves valuable nutrients as much as possible. The taste, neutral or bitter, depends on the climate of the area where it was harvested and pressed, as well as on the variety of olives. The product is ideal for salad dressings and ready-made meat or fish dishes. Packed in tin containers, if the volume is more than 1 liter or in glass, if the volume is less than a liter. The company was founded in 1914, but to this day is one of the recognized leaders. Borges products account for 60 percent of the domestic market in the segment of olive oil production.

Iberica extra virgin

Rating: 4.7

The fourth place is occupied by the first cold pressed unrefined olive oil. Made from selected fruits grown in the Mediterranean. It has a rich aroma and taste: soft, without bitterness, with nutty notes. Ideal for dressing salads or cooking. According to user feedback, it does not interrupt, but complements the taste of vegetables. When frying does not give odors and does not change color. In the fields where olives grow, no harmful chemicals and pesticides are used. Olive oil retains beneficial substances. Packaged in tinted glass bottles or cans.

Best Greek Olive Oil

Cretel P.D.O. Messara Extra Virgin

Rating: 4.9

In the first place in the rating category is unrefined olive oil of the first cold pressed. The right of the guaranteed region of production is fixed to it. Fruits are grown, harvested, pressed and packaged in one geographic region. In this case, in Greece, on the island of Crete, in the area of ​​Messara. The product is not a mixture of oils.According to experts and users, the oil has a rich taste with pronounced bitterness, indicating that the production did not have impurities that improve the taste, and hazardous chemicals.

Minerva Kalamata Extra Virgin

Rating: 4.8

The second line goes to the unrefined olive oil of the first cold-pressed, which has an optimal ratio of price, quality and volume. The fruits are grown on the island of Peloponnese, in the region of Kalamata, which is considered to be the main place of growth of excellent varieties of olives. Buyers to the advantages of the product include a pleasant taste without bitterness, which is so inherent in Extra Virgin. Oil is suitable for making sauces, dressings, marinades, ready meals and for frying. Proponents of dietary and proper nutrition note price availability, which does not affect the quality of the product.

Green & Fruity

Rating: 4.8

The third position receives unrefined first cold pressed olive oil. It has a fruity bouquet with a finish of ripe olives and a slightly peppery flavor. The product is designed for true connoisseurs of fine cuisine. Fruits are selected by hand, they are squeezed and bottled in the finished oil in one region - the City, in eastern Crete. The place is one of the most famous for the production of olive oils, as the fertile soil, the highlands and the long daylight hours create the conditions for the formation of a unique microclimate. The brand received the most awards and is a member of the Extra Virgin Alliance.

Delphi Extra Virgin

Rating: 4.7

The fourth is unrefined first cold pressed olive oil produced on the island of Crete, in Greece. The taste of the product is neutral: slightly gives ripe olives, but does not have a noticeable bitterness. The aroma is also not rich in notes, so customers, especially real gourmets, are not satisfied. The product is ideal for making sauces, dressings, marinades, etc. When frying, like other olive oils, Delphi Extra Virgin does not emit carcinogenic substances that are harmful to health.

Glafkos Extra Virgin

Rating: 4.6

Fifth place is another olive oil from the Greek island of Crete. The product is unrefined first cold pressed. Made from Koroneiki olives, it has a greenish-golden color, rich aroma and mild flavor with light bitter notes. The manufacturer recommends for full disclosure to use olive oil for salad dressing. Pesticides and hazardous chemicals are not used in the fields. In the composition there are no impurities that improve the taste, as the product is 100% natural. Glafkos Extra Virgin comes in 17 countries.

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Attention! This rating is subjective, is not advertising and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you should consult with a specialist.