All you need to know about olive oil
Our olive oils
All Amfora olive oils are true extra virgin, come from a specific terroir, and are top quality representatives of their region of cultivation. We source our products from family producers who want to invest to improve their production but are paid only low prices in their domestic market and from the big bulk buyers.
We carefully select our oils in close contact with the producers, through tasting, testing, and understanding the method of growing, harvesting and milling, through to certification. We follow closely the bulk packaging and transport so we can be sure we’re getting the right product and test it again on arrival. Finally, we transfer it ourselves into bottles and containers and then ship it to you!
This way, you can know that not only are you helping farmers get fair prices for their work, but you’re also getting the very best product that region has to offer, at a great price. Unlike supermarket olive oils, Amfora oils come without the risk of adulteration. You can be sure you’re getting the real stuff!
How to select a good olive oil?
First ensure that it is a true extra virgin olive oil. This is harder than it sounds. Almost every bottle on a shop shelf will say “extra virgin” – but it probably isn’t. Rather it’s likely a blend of oils of different quality from different regions, only some of which may be extra virgin. So buy extra virgin oil from a single producer or a single region to have the best chance of getting something good. Avoid bottles that simply say “product of the European Union” or supermarket “own brand”, “Pressé à froid”, “premier pression” – these statements sadly mean nothing now. And if it’s the cheapest on the shelf? You’ll likely be getting what you pay for.
Make sure you can find the date of the harvest and that it was this or last year. If it just has a sell-by date, count back 18 months or 2 years and that was when it was bottled. The harvest may have been 1 or even 2 year before then! Olive oil is at its best when it’s fresh. You should only be buying oil from the latest harvest.
Finally, tasting is the best test. Does it have a grassy or fruity taste on the tongue? Does it have a peppery, spicy finish that might even make you cough? Bingo. It’s probably a good one.
Of course, you can just buy any of Amfora’s range of olive oils and know that we’ve taken the trouble to make sure you’re getting all the benefits of a real extra virgin olive oil! But if you have to buy someone else’s, keep these tips in mind.
