Tasting extra virgin olive oil is similar to tasting wine. And just like wine, extra virgin olive oil has a variety of flavors and aromas. High-end organic extra virgin olive oil should taste like fresh herbs and fruit, with a range of profiles from delicate to complex. In contrast, low quality oil just tastes like oil.
To taste extra virgin olive oil at home, sniff to identify aromas, slurp noisily to emulsify the oil, and swallow to take note of which flavors you taste. The flavors emitted through extra virgin olive oil is determined by many factors, including the type of olives used, the ripeness of the olives, the growing conditions and how the oil is stored. As you have a taste of olive oil, explore and identify the fruitiness, bitterness and pungency (or pepperiness) of the oil. As you taste, ask yourself: is the aroma pleasant or unpleasant? Is the aroma mild, strong, or somewhere in the middle? How does the aroma compare to other oils? What three words would you use to describe the oil’s aroma? Can you sense bitterness on the back of your tongue? What’s the intensity of said bitterness? When you swallow the oil, how does it feel in your throat? Does it make you cough or does it sting? Between tasting oils, it is traditional to cleanse your palate with slices of Granny Smith apples and water.
Pour two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil into a cobalt blue tasting glass (or stemless wine glass).
Swirl the EVOO gently to release aromas. Keep the glass covered until you’re ready to sniff.
Sniff by placing your nose to the edge of the glass, inhale deeply through your nose and identify aromas.
Slurp noisily through your mouth to emulsify the oil and help spread it through your mouth. This will help release the flavors of the extra virgin olive oil.
Swallow and take note of the flavors you taste.
Common Descriptors
Green Fruit
Artichoke
Cinnamon
Eucalyptus
Grass
Green almond
Green apple
Green banana
Green olive
Green Tea
Herbaceous
Mint
Pine
Butter
Flowers
Nuts
Ripe apple
Ripe banana
Ripe olive
Stone fruit
Black pepper
Cherry
Citrus
Hay
Wood
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1 comment
I was pleased to receive my purchase of one dozen of the elegant posh bono fortuna tasting glasses. They truly amplify and capture the essence of the experience of olive oil tasting. My family and friends were more than amused as we savored and celebrated the taste of olive oils. They are a necessary component to the experience and more than worth the minor investment. If you enjoy wine tasting this is your next iteration and healthy and appropriate for everyone!
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