Giving extra virgin olive oil as a gift: how to choose

A good extra virgin olive oil is a gift that does not sit in a cupboard: it is used every day, at the table. And the holiday months are also the months of new oil, fresh from the mill. Here is how to choose well.

Which oil

• For those who love bold flavours and use oil mostly raw: the Raggia single variety, with its grassy notes and peppery finish.
• For those who cook every day: the Blend, more balanced, good raw and for cooking.
• To spark curiosity: one bottle of each, to taste side by side. We explain the difference in blend or single variety.

Which size

• 0.5 litre bottle: the table size, the easiest to give.
• 0.75 and 1 litre bottles: for a family that really uses oil.
• 3 or 5 litre tin: for keen cooks. The tin protects the oil from light and costs less per litre.

Choose oil from the latest harvest

Extra virgin olive oil is at its best in the months after the harvest: over time its aromas and pepperiness fade. Look for the harvest year on the label, when it is given: the best gift is oil from the current harvest. We explain how to read it in how to read the label, and what makes freshly made oil special in new olive oil, what it is.

Two tips for whoever receives it

• Keep it cool and dark, tightly closed, away from the stove: the details are in how to store extra virgin olive oil.
• Once opened, use it: it is not a wine to keep in the cellar.

One more idea

Along with the oil, write a simple recipe on a card where you can taste it, such as bruschetta with new olive oil or baccalà mantecato for Christmas Eve. And if you order from our website, you can give the recipient’s address as the delivery address.