How to taste olive oil?


Olive oil tasting kit, besides the oil itself:

-One glass of sparkling water

-Three slices of apple or one slice of white bread.

-Wine glass

-One baked or boiled potato on a plate, and hot.

-Fork.


Place all of the above in front of you on the table.

Olive oil labeled Extra Virgin Olive Oil is always of the highest quality because it is natural olive juice.


What do we look for in a good olive oil?

-Fruit flavor. This is the smell of freshly picked olives and olive leaves, which reminds us of the smell of freshly cut grass or the smell of a meadow after an unexpected rain.

-Spiciness. A sensation of sharpness in the back of the throat and some burning of the throat.

-A pleasant bitter aftertaste. It is felt in the back of the mouth and tongue.

Pour 10-15ml of olive oil into a wine glass.

The first step is to assess the odor. Warm the glass slightly in your hands, then smell the odor and try to trace the fruit aroma. The aroma should be pleasant, reminiscent of freshly cut grass, olive fruits and leaves or a meadow after a rain.

The second step - take a piece of bread, preferably white, without additives and flavorings. Dip it in butter. Put it in your mouth and try to detect a slight sharpness and bitterness. The aftertaste may reveal other interesting flavors - try to “register” them too - notes of green apple, almonds, artichokes, green tomatoes, bananas or pineapple, asparagus and avocado.

If you don't want to dip your bread, you can taste the butter just by sipping it. But no more than 5ml, which is less than one teaspoon, and try to detect the same flavors.


 Hot potato test.


This is a very simple and effective test. Bake or boil one jacket potato, peel it and put it whole on a plate. Pour olive oil over it and smell the odor that is released from the oil due to the temperature and potato starch. Quality olive oil will release a pleasant aroma of olive fruits and leaves, freshly cut grass, meadow after rain. Poor quality oil will spread a heavy and unpleasant odor.

 Don't throw away the potato after the dough! Here's what you can do with it (them), including the step of preparing the potatoes for the dough:

- Wash and dry the potatoes

- Sprinkle sea salt on the bottom of the baking dish

- Place the potatoes on the salt and let them stand, the potatoes should sink a little in the salt.

- Bake at 180◦C for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Or until fully cooked.

- While the potatoes are still hot, peel them from their skins and perform the above test. Then mash the whole potatoes with a fork in a bowl or dish while continuing to drizzle olive oil over them.

- Salt with sea salt to taste, add oregano, freshly ground black pepper to taste and serve.