4 Olive Oils to Add to Your Pantry ASAP
What’s more perfect than olive oil? Not much, in my opinion. Its standout quality is its versatility — it can be used while sauteing, roasting, as a dressing, as a marinade, or even as a nice contrast to a sweet dish or dessert. Name another food that’s that versatile — I’ll wait.
While there’s been some negative press about certain oils in the media recently, olive oil seems to be the timeless oil that will always stand strong and give you all the anti-inflammatory health benefits.
As you look further into different olive oil companies, you may find that olive oil is similar to wine — they can range widely in pricing, undertones, and regions produced (some include Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal, and Turkey).
Whether you’re an emerging olive oil connoisseur or just want a dependable brand to roast your veggies in, I thought I’d share a few companies that really piqued my interest.
Best olive oils to try right now
This one I personally found on a shelf in a plant-based fast casual restaurant in my hometown, Cincinnati. The colorful, clean branding originally stood out to me (which is unique for olive oil). Then as I dove deeper, I found that all of the olive oils are cold pressed, they’re mindfulness and tastefully infused, and the brand has an admirable story. Needless to say, I’m a fan.
Cold pressed, for those who don’t know, simply means that the olive oil is extracted without heat or added chemicals, which can deplete nutritional value and reduce overall quality. Their olives are sourced right in California.
Brightland is female-founded, and the bright colors in the branding were the founder’s way of integrating her Indian heritage. The origins of the company were rooted in a deep familial love of food, which most of us can relate to. Some of the olive oils include chili, lemon, garlic, and basil-infused. They also now have a jalapeno herb pizza oil. Yum.
Looking for a classic, dependable, fresh, multi-purpose olive oil? Say no more — Graza is here. This company was founded in 2021 with unique, fun, squeezable bottles. Where many olive oils are often blended and sourced from multiple regions, Graza is strictly sourced from Jaen, Spain, where one of the co-founders lived for a brief period of time before starting the company.
They pride themselves on olive oils that are “made to be used” — simple, without fancy flavors, and not outrageously priced. Their products solely consist of the “sizzle,” which is cooking oil, and the “drizzle,” which is finishing oil. The bottle is 100% recyclable and is similar to those used by chefs. If you’re sick of feeling like an amateur cook, it’s a nice little confidence boost.
This is another American-sourced extra-virgin olive oil company (grown in the Bay area), female-founded, and sold in unique tin packaging. Their two olive oils consist of the “Fat Gold Standard,” which is bold and peppery, and the “Fat Gold Blue,” which is delicate and floral.
They also have a subscription program, where you can get a variety of olive oils shipped to you consistently throughout the year.
This company similarly started within the last few years (2020) and prides itself on the Greek origins of the founders and the olives themselves. They have classic flavors such as spicy, Greek herb and lemon, garlic, and spicy red pepper. There’s also varied packaging including white or deep blue bottles or tins.
Kosterina ensures they greatly exceed the extra virgin olive oil standards, with a polyphenol content of 400 mg/kg or more (to put this into perspective, 55 mg/kg is considered extra virgin).
The bottom line on olive oil
Whether you’re dipping your sourdough in EVOO, using it as a base for a marinade, or making a classic, summer-y lettuce-free salad, all of these will really help elevate your dishes. All of these are American-founded, extra virgin, and pride themselves on sourcing from one region. (It’s common that most supermarket olive oils are blended from different regions and types of olives.) I hope this sparks inspiration for new, at-home recipes!
Image courtesy of Brightland
