Extra Virgin Olive Oil

The olives used in this oil were “cold pressed”.  This means that they were “pressed” (or crushed, or squashed) with the use of mechanical extraction methods.  No chemicals or hot water has been used in this process.  The whole olive was used, and this is the first time these particular olives were pressed. Extra Virgin Olive Oil has only 1% acid.  (The best olive oil is going to be the one with the lowest acidity level).  This kind of olive oil may taste somewhat fruity.  The color will range from pale yellow to bright green.  (The deeper the color, the more flavor the olive oil will have).

Virgin Olive Oil

Like Extra Virgin Olive Oil, this oil comes from whole olives that have not been pressed before.  These olives were also “cold pressed”, and have not had any chemicals or hot water added to the process.  The difference is that Virgin Olive Oil can have as low as 1% acidity to as high as 3.3% acidity.  Virgin Olive Oil has a flavor that is more intense than the flavor in the Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Pure Olive Oil

This may also be called Fino Olive Oil, Fine Olive Oil, (the Italian word for fine is fino), or simply Olive Oil.  It might also be called 100% Pure Olive Oil.  This kind of olive oil contains a mix of Virgin and Extra Virgin Olive Oils.  The acidity level of this kind of olive oil will be between 1% and 3% , similar to the Virgin Olive Oil.  This kind of olive oil is generally judged to have a good taste, but not nearly as good as the Virgin Olive Oil.

Light Olive Oil

This kind of olive oil may also be called Lite Olive Oil.  Do not assume that Light Olive Oil has less calories or fats than the other types of olive oil.  The world light refers to the color of the olive oil.  Light olive oil can be a very pale yellow, to a very light green color.   It contains the same amount of beneficial fat and the same amount of calories that the other olive oils do.  Light Olive oil generally doesn’t have much flavor, and may have no flavor at all.  This is a good choice of olive oil to use for cooking.

Organic Olive Oil

The olives used in this kind of olive oil did not have chemicals used on them while they were growing.  They also didn’t have pesticides, fungicides, or herbicides sprayed on them.

Olive Pomace Oil

This is the lowest grade of all the olive oils.  It is made from the pomace, which is the leftover bits of olive that are still in the machine after the olives have been pressed to make Virgin or Extra Virgin Olive Oil.  There may be solvents used in the creation of this kind of olive oil.  It’s only use is for cooking.