Sometimes getting to the supermarket, the most trusted shop or the most special gourmet space to find the most appropriate extra virgin olive oil becomes an odyssey. Understanding that olive oil, virgin olive oil and extra virgin olive oil are not the same thing is the first step to getting it right, but there are many other elements to pay attention to in order to hit the bull’s eye. Carolina Nieto, one of the four founders of Alevoo, explains: “To identify a good extra virgin olive oil, several factors must be considered. We would highlight, on the one hand, its flavor, aroma and texture and, on the other hand, the nutritional values that it provides to the organism”.
The best extra virgin olive oil
Precisely because no two extra virgin olive oils are the same, Alevoo’s extra virgin olive oils, recently recognized by the European Union, have triumphed both inside and outside our borders for being: organic, early harvested, single variety ‘Royal’ and single variety ‘Picual’, with a high content of monounsaturated fats, antioxidants and vitamins A, D, E and K. To recognize a good ‘liquid gold’ without tasting it, it is important to follow Carolina Nieto’s advice. “First of all, we must pay attention to the EVOO with “its name and surname”: we have to identify an “extra virgin olive oil” (not a virgin olive oil and not an olive oil). And within the extra virgin olive oils, always look for an EVOO from an early harvest, if possible single variety, with a unique type of olive in order to maintain the organoleptic and physicochemical characteristics of that variety”.
Alevoo meets all those requirements and that is shown on its labelling. We recommend focusing on the label. It is important to pay attention to the EVOO legend, which reads “extra virgin olive oil” and which details the definition required by law, in which the olive oil must be of a superior category, obtained from olives and only by mechanical means.
Protected designation of origin
When deciding whether to buy a premium extra virgin olive oil, its origin also plays an important role, so it is important to pay attention to the certified seal of the Protected Designation of Origin. “A P.D.O. certified EVOO guarantees the origin and quality of the oil. Consider as well the organic certificate, not only a mention of the organic EVOO, but also the organic seal-certificate that endorses it. In our case it is the European and CAAE seal”.
A very healthy product
Nutritional values make the difference among olive oils, because no, they are not all the same. There is currently a misunderstanding that all EVOOs provide you with the same benefits and nutritional values. That has nothing to do with reality. The brand itself also plays a role and it is the factor that can give consumers the most confidence. We recommend to know who is behind each company, that security of knowing who is putting the product on the market. Seriousness, thoroughness and professionalism have to take precedence nowadays. In addition to brand awareness and image, the company’s official web site should tell us who it is.
There is nothing more gratifying than to enjoy eating something healthy, so in Alevoo we claim the importance of an extra virgin olive oil with excellent properties. What makes Alevoo EVOO special is all of the above and, especially what cannot be identified on paper, that is the tasting of EVOO. The unique flavor of our EVOOs, their fresh and natural aroma that will intoxicate your senses from the moment you open the bottle, and a delicate, elegant texture on the palate, will make your recipes and food spectacular, and will imbue you with that freshness and elegance when you enjoy them.
