5 Ways to Instantly Know If Your Olive Oil Is Truly Extra Virgin
With so many olive oils on the market, it’s no surprise that not all of them are what they claim. The label might say "extra virgin," but is it really? Here are 5 quick and effective ways to tell if the olive oil you're using is the real deal — or just pretending to be.
1. Check the Label — Carefully
Look for these three essentials:
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“Extra Virgin” clearly stated
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A harvest date or “best before” (not just a production date)
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The country of origin (ideally single-origin, like Spain)
Avoid oils that just say “pure” or “light” — these are refined and lack the nutritional benefits of real EVOO.
2. Smell It: Fruity and Fresh
Open the bottle and take a deep sniff. Real EVOO should smell:
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Fruity (like green tomato, almond, or fresh-cut grass)
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Peppery or slightly bitter
If it smells greasy, metallic, or like crayons, it's likely rancid or refined.
3. Taste Test: Bitter Is Better
The most trusted way to know? A taste:
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Bitter and slightly spicy at the back of your throat is a good sign
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If it tastes bland, greasy, or flavorless, it’s not real EVOO
Fun fact: the “cough test” is real — good EVOO may trigger a tiny throat tickle. That’s the antioxidant power at work.
4. Color Isn’t Everything
High-quality olive oil can range from golden yellow to deep green. But don’t be fooled:
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Color is not an indicator of quality
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Some fake oils are dyed green to appear more "authentic"
Trust the smell and taste — not the color.
5. Look for Filtered, Cold-Pressed Oil
The best EVOO is:
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Cold-pressed: extracted without heat or chemicals
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Filtered: for clarity and shelf life
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Stored in dark glass bottles to protect from light damage
At NovaLux, all our oils — Picual, Royal, and Organic Picual — meet these standards. Straight from Jaén, Spain, filtered and cold-pressed to preserve all the nutrients and flavor.
Trust What You Taste
With just a little awareness, you can avoid fake oils and bring only the real Mediterranean gold into your kitchen.
🛒 Discover the Difference — Shop our range of premium Spanish EVOO, now in the UAE.
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