Dr. Oz has hailed olive oil as “Youth in a Bottle.” Mayo Clinic promotes replacing artery-clogging saturated and trans-fats with olive oil’s monounsaturated fats to fight heart disease. Mayo notes that “extra-virgin” olive oils are the least processed variety and may provide greater heart health benefits. Where then should we turn to learn how to obtain the best olive oil?
Everyone who has relocated to and written about Provence (Peter Mayle, Mort Rosenblum, Carol Drinkwater) or Andalucia (former Genesis rocker Chris Stewart) or Tuscany (Frances Mayes – played by Diane Lane in Under the Tuscan Sun) seems to have resurrected ancient, abandoned olive groves. These pen-wielding ex-pats produce abundances of Olea europaea fruit (olives) as well as entertaining memoirs promoting the joyous consumption of one’s own olive oil. But how should those of us who cannot grow, harvest, and mill our own olives select extra virgin olive oil from a store’s shelf with confidence?
Researchers at UC Davis and the Australian Oils Research Laboratory have examined both imported and U.S.-grown olive oils in order to determine how they measure up to international and USDA standards. Their July 2010 report presented their evaluation of fourteen imported and five California brands of extra virgin olive oil sold by retailers in California. Looking for evidence of oxidation, adulteration by less costly refined oils, or poor sensory quality, the researchers concluded that imported extra-virgin olive oils were much more likely to be sub-standard than were those from California.
What’s the take-away from this information? Don’t reach for a bottle of the amber fluid based solely on a pretty label, exotic origin, or volume discount. Purchase your extra-virgin olive oil from a retailer whose stock turns over frequently; reach for a bottle at the back of the shelf; and store your bottle away from heat and light. Keep in mind the health-promoting value of this liquid gold and find new ways to enjoy it. Instead of slathering a dinner roll with butter, try dipping a slice of hearty bread in a puddle of olive oil. Splash olive oil over your salads with your favorite vinegar or citrus juice instead of using a prepared bottled dressing. Enjoy your dining as though you were living along the Mediterranean and enjoying the fruit of your personal olive grove. Bon appetit!