Episode 1: What’s Your Favorite Olive Oil?

“What’s your favorite olive oil?”

I hear that question almost every day, and honestly, it’s one of the hardest questions for me to answer.

Not because I don’t have favorites. I do.

The problem is that my favorite olive oil depends entirely on what I’m eating, what I’m cooking, and sometimes even what kind of mood I’m in.

A robust, peppery olive oil might be perfect on a grilled steak or a bowl of white beans. But that same oil could overpower a delicate piece of fish or a simple summer salad.

It’s a little like asking someone, “What’s your favorite wine?” Are we talking about a summer picnic, a holiday dinner, or pizza night on the porch?

As an olive oil sommelier, I taste oils the way wine professionals taste wine. Some are delicate and buttery. Some are grassy and herbaceous. Others are bold, peppery, and downright feisty.

There isn’t one “best” olive oil.

There is only the best olive oil for you.

That’s why I always encourage customers to taste before they buy whenever possible. What tastes amazing to me may not be the flavor profile you enjoy. And that’s perfectly okay.

One of the things I love most about olive oil is that there is something for everyone. Some people fall in love with a mild Arbequina. Others want the peppery kick of a robust Coratina that makes them cough a little.

So the next time you’re tempted to ask me what my favorite olive oil is, try asking a different question:

“What olive oil do you think I would like?”

Now we’re having a much more interesting conversation.

— Suzanne Brown
The Olive Oil Gal