Olive Oil 101 Part I — How To Taste

Given our Italian heritage, we just can’t do without our olive oils at Di Bruno Bros. Just like Danny and Joe did, we use it on, with, and over everything! But if you’re just dipping your toes into the wonders of really good olive oil, allow us to help you out with a few pro tips. Tasting Olive Oil One way to assess the quality and flavor profile of an olive oil is to taste it all on its own. Here’s how our buyers like to do it:  

1. Pour a small amount of oil into a tapered wine glass, or small bowl or cup if you don’t have a glass handy.
2. Hold the bottom of the glass in one hand, cover the top with the other, and swirl it around to let your body heat strengthen the aroma.
3. Take a sniff, paying attention to the different aromas that you detect. Don’t be shy—get your nose in there and inhale!
4. Taste the oil with a big, loud slurp. Make sure you suck in air as well as oil: aerating the liquid helps release even more flavor. Notice what other foods the oil’s taste reminds you of, and how light or heavy it feels on your tongue.
5. Finally, swallow the oil. Does it leave an aftertaste or a spicy sensation? Does the flavor linger or dissipate relatively quickly?

The Flavor Wheel Olive oil is a complex food with a myriad of possible flavors! Use our Olive Oil Tasting Wheel below to help you identify some of the flavors you’re experiencing.   Congratulations! You are now an expert olive oil taster. Stop into our stores to try some of our favorite and rare oils for yourself!