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Olive oil comes in many different varieties from flavorful to bland or virgin to extra light. As with most foods the unrefined olive oil is the better one for flavor and nutrition. The refined one usually uses heat and chemicals to extract the last available amount of oil from the already pressed and repressed olive mash. Before we get into the different processes involved, let us look at the varieties.
Extra virgin is the best grade of olive oil. The good grade olives are pressed for the first time with nothing more than the original and natural cold press method that has been around for thousands of years. The oil has less than one percent acidity and the best flavor that is certified by a taster.
Virgin olive oil is made either taking the mash from the first press used for the extra virgin and repressing it, or by taking the second grade olives and cold pressing them for the first time. Again there are not chemical additives used in this process and very little if any heat is used. Virgin olive oil still has a decent flavor.
Pure is commercial grade oil and the word "Pure" can be misleading in the fact that the oil is refined with heat and chemical solvents combined with high pressure and finally put through a filtration system, then it is blended with a little bit of virgin olive oil to give it some color and flavor. The oil that is refined to make the "Pure" grade is the rejected leftovers of the virgin oil.
Amazing how marketing terminology can make the worst grade sound like it is the best for you. Both Light and Extra Light grades are made from the very last pressing of what is left of the olive mash. These two grades are processed even more than the Pure variety and are of even lower quality oil. There is hardly any flavor to the oil and it is very light in color.
A good source of additional information on the differetn varieties is the Australian Health Guide
Our site is meant to educate you the reader so that you can make an informed decision when you make make your next purchase. We also list some of the finest oils and olive extracts available for sale, so that you can be assured of the very best. We are currently on a buying trip that will make sure you get the best possible products from our web site. As we have recently added olive leaf extract to our inventory it has some wonderful qualities that you may want to read up on.
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