【Types of Olive Oil】

In recent years, Hong Kong people are more and more concerned about healthy diet, many people will choose olive oil as their daily cooking oil, but do you know how to distinguish between extra virgin olive oil, regular virgin olive oil, refined olive oil and olive oil?

The International Olive Council (IOC) divides olive oil into two major types according to the different ways of obtaining olive oil,"Virgin olive oil"and"Olive Pomace Oil"

"Virgin olive oil"are the oils obtained from the fruit of the olive tree (Olea europaea L. ) solely by mechanical or other physical means under conditions, particularly thermal conditions, that do not lead to alterations in the oil, and which have not undergone any treatment other than washing, decantation, centrifugation and filtration.

• Extra virgin olive oil

The best olive oil, the oil is extracted by the first cold press method, without any heating treatment, the free acidity does not exceed 0.8%

Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil comes from non-genetically modified olive trees. The production process is free of pesticides, synthetic herbicides or other chemical products. Compost and manure are the best fertilizers. The certifications and regulations for the production and sale of this type of oil are very strict, among which CAAE and EURO LEAF are the most representative organic cultivation certifications in Europe and worldwide.

• Virgin olive oil

Free acidity does not exceed 2%

• Ordinary virgin olive oil

Free acidity does not exceed 3.3%

• Virgin olive oil not fit for consumption

Not suitable for consumption, commonly used as lamp oil or re-refined

• Refined olive oil

Refined olive oil is the olive oil obtained from virgin olive oils by refining methods which do not lead to alterations in the initial glyceridic structure, the free acidity does not exceed 0.3%.

• Olive oil

Olive oil is the oil consisting of a blend of refined olive oil and virgin olive oils fit for consumption as they are, with free acidity not exceeding 1%

"Olive Pomace Oil"is the oil obtained by treating olive pomace with solvents or other physical treatments, to the exclusion of oils obtained by re esterification processes and of any mixture with oils of other kinds.

Olive-pomace oil whose characteristics are those laid down for this category. It is intended for refining for use for human consumption, or it is intended for technical use.

• Refined olive pomace oil

Oil obtained by refining crude olive-pomace oil, free acidity is less than 0.3%.

• Olive pomace oil

The free acidity is less than 1%. It is the oil comprising the blend of refined olive pomace oil and virgin olive oils fit for consumption as they are.

With the above knowledge, I hope you can buy the best olive oil for yourself!