Tasting Olive Oil
Follow these 5 steps to taste the oil:
Step 1) Pour
Pour a small amount of olive oil into a glass.
Step 2) Swirl
Move the oil around the glass to warm it up, releasing aromas and flavors.
Step 3) Inhale
Smell the oil... is it mildly or strongly fragrant?
Step 4) Slurp
Coat your mouth with the oil to taste.
Step 5) Swallow
If you need to cough after tasting or feel a tickle in the throat, it is a good quality olive oil.
Good Flavors
Aromas to look for:
- Green / grassy
- Artichoke
- Peppery
- Fruity
- Bitter
- Olive leaf
- Buttery
- Tomato leaf
Bad Flavors
These are the flavors you do not want to find in your oil:
- Fermented / Yeasty
- Mold / Earthy
- Vinegar
- Burnt
- Metallic
At a real tasting, small darkened glasses are used. Darkened so that the color does not influence your appreciation of the oil.
Usually a tasting starts with a light oil, followed by a medium, and ending with a robust olive oil.