Olive Oil Blog

Open kitchen cupboard with jars and bottles on the shelf
How to Store Olive Oil (and How Long It Really Lasts)
Olive oil's enemies are light, heat, and air. Here's how to store it, how long it lasts opened or unopened, and how to tell if it's gone rancid. Read more...
Olive oil being poured over slices of toasted bread
Bread Dipping Olive Oil: 5 Easy Recipes Using Great EVOO
Five easy bread dipping oil recipes, from classic herb and garlic to balsamic and za'atar, plus tips for choosing the right olive oil and bread. Read more...
Olive oil tasting set-up with bread and small bowls
How to Taste Olive Oil Like a Pro (Yes, the Cough Is a Good Sign)
Learn to taste olive oil like a pro in 4 steps: warm, smell, slurp, and finish. Plus what fruity, bitter, and peppery mean, and the flavors that signal a defect. Read more...
Olive oil gift box with bottles and dipping bowls
The California Olive Oil Gift Guide: Holiday, Client, and Hostess Gifts
Thoughtful olive oil gift ideas from a California family farm: gift sets for cooks, hostess gifts, corporate client gifts, and what to pair with a bottle. Read more...
Chef using olive oil in a restaurant kitchen
Buying Olive Oil in Bulk: A Guide for Restaurants, Caterers, and Serious Home Cooks
How to buy bulk olive oil wisely: gallon vs 5-gallon, price per ounce, storage, freshness, and what restaurants should ask a supplier. Read more...
Century-old olive trees in a Sierra Foothills orchard
Harvest Season in Calaveras County: Our Gold Country Olive Orchard
Follow the November and December hand harvest at Rose Brothers, a family orchard of centenarian olive trees in Valley Springs, from picking to milling to the first green oil. Read more...
Ancient olive trees in a dry field under a blue sky
California Olive Oil vs. Imported: Why Fresh, Local Oil Tastes Different
Most olive oil in the U.S. is imported. Here's how California olive oil compares on freshness, testing standards, and flavor, and how to choose the best one. Read more...
Olive oil tasting set-up with bread and small bowls
How to Tell If Olive Oil Is Real Extra Virgin (6 Things to Check)
Worried about fake olive oil? Here are 6 practical checks: harvest date, origin, testing, certification, bottle, and taste. No fridge myths. Read more...
Extra virgin olive oil pouring from a glass bottle into a bowl, with green olives and olive leaves
Filtered vs. Unfiltered Olive Oil: What's the Difference?
Unfiltered olive oil is cloudier and bolder, but does it last as long? A California olive farmer explains filtered vs. unfiltered and how to store each. Read more...
Green olives growing on an olive tree branch
What Is High-Polyphenol Olive Oil? (And How to Know If Yours Is)
What polyphenols are, why fresh olive oil tastes peppery, what "high polyphenol" really means, and how to check a bottle before you buy. Read more...