Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) is made simply by crushing olives and extracting the juice.
Since EVOO is simply fruit juice without any additives, its quality and taste are influenced by the varieties of olives, the terroir where they were grown, and the countless decisions and production practices of a dedicated producer.
Only unrefined olive oil that exhibits nice fruity flavors has no taste defects and meets certain benchmarks in its chemical composition can be called “extra virgin.” In EVOO, the taste of the fruit is intact, and its quality reflects great care throughout the entire production process. Extra virgin olive oils have higher amounts of nutrients and therefore provide greater health benefits.
Just like your fresh greens and tomatoes from the farmers market, EVOO is seasonal and you want to consume the freshest, healthiest, tastiest harvest possible! That's why one of the most important things to look for when purchasing an EVOO is the crush date (when it was harvested).
