EVOO - Consumer's Checklist

What you should know when buying your EVOO.  Here are some keys to help you make the most out of your purchase in a market flooded with counterfeit products. These information should be either on the bottle, or on the olive oil maker’s website. 

1. Dark Glass Bottle. EVOO is extremely sensitive to light so a clear bottle will oxidize the oil really fast. At home, keep your oil in the dark bottle to preserve its quality.

2. Harvest Date: You need to know when the olives have been harvested. The fresher the olives, the tastier the oil will be. Expiration date is from the harvest date, not milling date.

3. Milling Date: High quality EVOO is milled in less than 24 hours.

4. Storage Temperature: EVOO is also extremely sensitive to heat. The optimal storage temperature needs to between 60-72 ° F {15 - 22 °C} since the time of milling and after opening.

5. Certificate of Analysis (COA): Each EVOO release needs to be analyzed by a third party lab accredited by the IOC (International Olive Council) to certify it is an authentic Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

6. Polyphenols Levels: High-end EVOO have their Polyphenol {Antioxidant} levels analyzed by a third party Lab accredited by the IOC.

7. Expiration Date: High Quality EVOO rich in Polyphenols can last 2 years from the time of harvest when stored in the appropriate conditions listed above. Once open, it is best to consume within a month.