Types of Olive Oil

Rich, beautiful, and fragrant, olive oil is much like wine -- taste is a matter of personal preference. The many variables that go into the production of olive oil yield dramatic differences in color, aroma, and flavor. And several names are used to differentiate all of these versions, which you'll learn about here.

The following factors impact the taste of olive oil:

• Variety of olive used
• Location and soil conditions where the olives were grown
• Environmental factors and weather during the growing season
• Olive ripeness
• Timing of the harvest
• Harvesting method
• Length of time between the harvest and pressing
• Pressing technique
• Packaging and storage methods

Olive oils are graded by production method, acidity content, and flavor. The International Olive Oil Council (IOOC) sets quality standards that most olive-oil-producing countries use, but the United States does not legally recognize these benchmarks. Instead, the U.S. Department of Agriculture uses a different system that was set up before the IOOC existed. However, American olive growers and oil importers are encouraging the USDA to adopt standards similar to those of the IOOC.