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OLIVE OIL 101

The olive oil squeeze bottle trend—and why we’re not following it.

The olive oil squeeze bottle format exploded fast, and for understandable reasons: one brand proved there was real, pent-up appetite for a more approachable olive oil experience. This article was written by Citizens of Soil founder Sarah Vachon and Erin Ridley—a certified olive oil sommelier, as well as a former producer, sensory panelist, and competition judge. Originally from California, she is now based in Madrid, Spain. Squeeze bottles are everywhere. Walk into any independent food sho...

Hydroxytyrosol benefits: the real reason high-quality olive oil matters.

It's not the most pronounceable word in the pantry—we'll give you that. But hydroxytyrosol might just be one of the most important compounds in your diet. It’s also the reason why the scientists and nutritionists who really know their olive oil get a little obsessive about it. This article was written in partnership with Erin Ridley—a certified olive oil sommelier, as well as a former producer, sensory panelist, and competition judge. Originally from California, she is now based in Madrid, S...

What is Oleocanthal and Why It Matters for Everyday Wellness

Ever taken a swig of extra virgin olive oil and felt that peppery burn at the back of your throat that makes you cough? Most people assume that's a flaw, and that smooth, mild oil is the mark of quality. It's not. That throat-tickling sensation is oleocanthal announcing its presence, and this compound has researchers rather excited. This article was written in partnership with Erin Ridley—a certified olive oil sommelier, as well as a former producer, sensory panelist, and competition judge....

An EVOO brand boom—but what about olive oil quality?

The vibe is cool, and it has all the seemingly right buzzwords, but then you scratch your head and wonder: is it actually high-quality olive oil? Or just a nice packaging? How’s one to know? You’re probably familiar with this experience: you followed an olive oil business (like, let’s say, Citizens of Soil) and now every time you go on Instagram, you’re getting served up an ad for a new, easy-on-the-eyes olive oil brand. So today, we want to address the elephant in the olive oil-filled room...

When it comes to extra virgin olive oil, spicy is good (for you).

Spicy, peppery, pungent—these are all words that can be used to describe extra virgin olive oil. That tingling feeling is an indicator of the polyphenol content of the oil. And like all health related buzz-words, ‘polyphenol’ is getting a lot of airtime right now, on podcasts and in the papers. So we wanted to give you the low-down on what spicy really means for olive oil, straight from an informed professional. This article was written by Alexis Kerner, a leading international olive oil e...

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How To Taste Extra Virgin Olive Oil: An Olive Oil Sommelier's Guide

What exactly does "extra" taste like? How do you know if what you've bought is the real deal? Here's a guide for what to look out for when trying an olive oil. So, let's pop open a new bottle, and let's explore.

Behind the bottle: an interview with artist Chiara Perano.

We met Chiara Perano a long way from Tuscany, in her studio on the south coast of England. Her Italian roots, however, were present in the space around us. Books by Italian artists, clippings of Italian renaissance paintings on the walls, and an obvious connection to the romance of this country. Chiara was our first choice for an artist to design our Tuscan Extra Rare olive oil, and the partnership seemed serendipitous: she tells us in the studio that she was musing on the possibility of de...

Why Olive Oil Deserves a Place at Your Table

Olive oil is having a moment. What was once considered just a cooking fat is now (and rightfully so) being praised for its role as a functional food, one that supports gut health, reduces inflammation, and balances hormones. But quality matters, and not all olive oils are created equal. We talked to Phoebe Liebling (Registered Nutritional Therapist), about why a high-quality olive oil deserves a place at your table. Olive oil has always been called ‘healthy’, but lately it feels like it’s h...