With so many different types of olive oil on the market, it is important to know what is what and how they vary. As one of the most popular forms of olive oil, extra virgin olive oil is widely used in culinary applications, but what is it exactly? If you have ever found yourself wondering what extra virgin olive oil is, this article is for you!

Today, O-Live will be breaking down all you need to know about extra virgin olive oil from how it is made and how it varies from standard olive oil. By the time you’re done reading this article, you’ll have all the facts necessary to make the best selection of extra virgin olive oil for you.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

The extra virgin variation of olive oil is widely known to be the highest quality and most expensive. To be considered extra virgin, olive oil must contain no defects and be highly flavorful. It must also be processed and created in a specific method that varies from the production of standard olive oil.

The quality of the olives used to create extra virgin olive oil is also of utmost importance. The olives used in the process must be fresh and in good condition while being closely monitored for quality throughout the entire process. At O-Live, our extra virgin olive oils are produced in accordance to the required methods and the fresh olives used are transferred from the grove to the bottle in a few hours to make it the best for cooking.

How is Extra Virgin Olive Oil Made?

To be considered an extra virgin olive oil, olive oil must be made entirely through a mechanical process. It must also be produced without any solvents and kept under temperatures that would diminish the quality of the oil. This process is far from easy and requires the utmost care every step of the way.  

At O-Live, we understand the care required to produce high quality olive oil. That’s why we utilize a fast harvesting process that delivers the olives from grove to bottle within a few hours. This process keeps the acidity level of our extra virgin olive oil at 0.2%.  

This acidity level is much lower than the average acidity level, 0.8%, of some of the most well known distributors of extra virgin olive oil. Studies have shown that a lower acidity level also increases the extra virgin olive oil’s smoke point, making it better for cooking. 

What’s the Difference Between Olive Oil and Extra Virgin Olive Oil?

So what’s the difference between olive oil and extra virgin olive oil, really?

Put simply, extra virgin olive oil is unrefined and processed under very different methods than olive oil. While extra virgin olive oil is required to be processed without extra chemicals, olive oil is produced from pressed olive fruits and may utilize certain chemicals in production. 

Olive oil (refined olive oil) is chemically treated to eliminate certain components from the olive oil to increase the value for sales purposes. Unfortunately, this means that they lack the antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that make extra virgin olive oil such a health-conscious alternative to ingredients like butter or vegetable oil.  

If the health benefits of olive oil are of particular interest to you, it’s always better to select the extra virgin olive oil variety. This will give you benefits ranging from lower blood pressure to the anti-inflammatory effects provided by anti-inflammatory medications. It’s also delicious!

Take a look at our selection of extra virgin olive oil to see the real difference!