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Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil (2012)

theguardian.com

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Re: Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil (2012)

#11

Post by kafkaesque »

colanderman wrote: post #4

Does anyone have any tips for finding quality olive oil? The only way I've had success is to buy inexpensive single-source stuff, even if it's inexpensive and non-Italian. Best olive oils I've had were single-sourced from Spain; $2 from a discount store. Maybe no-one wants to fake non-Italian oil?

"But fyi, there is an ever-growing list of recommended oils on my website: www.extravirginity.com. Best wishes, Tom Mueller"[0]

The only reason I quote the book's author is because on the Amazon review site, he exchanges some additional thoughts on olive oil with some Amazon users.

Here is the list, which is linked from Mueller's site: http://www.truthinoliveoil.com/great-oil

[0] http://www.amazon.com/review/R8G1CO1XY4DJ7/ref=cm_cr_rev_det...

Re: Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil (2012)

#12

Post by davidw »

jff wrote: post #8
colanderman wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Right, but there's 100s of kinds out there, and I could go broke buying crappy ones. To me, the article implies that the system is gamed – I am wondering if anyone knows sources / etc. for identifying those suppliers which don't game the system. My method isn't to "fetishize the origin/process" (what, do you think I'm like 12?), but to look for oils that carry lesser-desirable (and hence less likely to be gamed) prop…

Yeah, I don't understand why they make such a big deal out of being sourced from Italy. Olives grown elsewhere should make fine oil, and you could probably use the honest advertisement of non-Italian origin as a gauge for the honesty of the company.

I live in Italy, and love the food here. I am sure I could not tell Italian olive oil from Spanish, Greek, or Californian olive oil. Perhaps there are people who can, but I doubt most of my friends here could. I happily buy the "Mediterranean" extra vergin olive oil to save a bit.

Re: Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil (2012)

#13

Post by clumsysmurf »

Many people buy into the supposed health benefits on olive oil, which probably boils down to its phenolic content. However, this depends on many things and drops over time.

The end of this article has some tips to ensure getting the best oil.

http://news.discovery.com/earth/plants/olive-oil-health-bene...

Re: Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil (2012)

#15

Post by seliopou »

colanderman wrote: post #4

Does anyone have any tips for finding quality olive oil? The only way I've had success is to buy inexpensive single-source stuff, even if it's inexpensive and non-Italian. Best olive oils I've had were single-sourced from Spain; $2 from a discount store. Maybe no-one wants to fake non-Italian oil?

Here's what you do. Make friends with immigrants that still have connections to their olive oil producing motherland. They either get shipments from their family, know somebody else in their community that gets shipments, or know somebody back home that may be willing to ship some. Ask them if you can buy some from them. Or, be nice to them and they may offer you some as a gift. I've done this on many occasions, and it's always very much appreciated.

And FYI, not many people press their own olives anymore. Typically they'll bring their harvest to a factory that will do it for them. And the pressing that is done is typically not a cold press, and they're certainly going to press it more than once. Oil is food, they're not just going to throw food away to be fancy. But what you will get from this process is still miles above anything you will get at the grocery store.

Re: Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil (2012)

#17

Post by aviv »

colanderman wrote: post #4

Does anyone have any tips for finding quality olive oil? The only way I've had success is to buy inexpensive single-source stuff, even if it's inexpensive and non-Italian. Best olive oils I've had were single-sourced from Spain; $2 from a discount store. Maybe no-one wants to fake non-Italian oil?

Nash's organic olive oil - http://www.nashsoliveoil.com/

He's at the San Rafael, CA farmers market every Sunday and Alemany market in SF on Saturdays. He also ships anywhere in the US.

Re: Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil (2012)

#18

Post by rustynails »

jff wrote: post #8
colanderman wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Right, but there's 100s of kinds out there, and I could go broke buying crappy ones. To me, the article implies that the system is gamed – I am wondering if anyone knows sources / etc. for identifying those suppliers which don't game the system. My method isn't to "fetishize the origin/process" (what, do you think I'm like 12?), but to look for oils that carry lesser-desirable (and hence less likely to be gamed) prop…

Yeah, I don't understand why they make such a big deal out of being sourced from Italy. Olives grown elsewhere should make fine oil, and you could probably use the honest advertisement of non-Italian origin as a gauge for the honesty of the company.

The Italians have been caught selling rancid and impure olive oil in Australia about once per year (ie. just about every time it's checked). It applied to cheaper and expensive oils, so cost wasn't a judge.

I don't buy Italian olive oils any more because of the wide-spread deception. To be fair to the Italians, they were as dishonest as the Greeks and the Spanish. The list of brands was very long and the levels of rancidity/impurity were worrying.

The only name I remember that was found to be honest was Cobham. I think they're an Australian family business (but could be wrong). I have no affiliation with Cobham in any way, except I buy their extra virgin olive oil.

Interestingly, I know rancid oils are very poisonous, but have never found a reference to the ill effects of rancid oils.

Re: Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil (2012)

#19

Post by vixen99 »

clumsysmurf wrote: post #13

Many people buy into the supposed health benefits on olive oil, which probably boils down to its phenolic content. However, this depends on many things and drops over time. The end of this article has some tips to ensure getting the best oil. http://news.discovery.com/earth/plants/olive-oil-health-bene...

Hardly 'supposed'. There are plenty of peer-reviewed studies indicating the benefits of olive oil.
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