Nowadays, everybody wants to know where their food comes from and how they have been prepared, hence the popularity of organic food. Many brands and companies now heavily promote if their products are from an organic farm, and they are generally sold at a higher price point, and this also applies to olive oil.
However, not everyone knows what “organic” means. In this article, we cover the key difference between traditional and organic olive oils and discuss if organic olive oils are really better.
Traditional Olive Oil vs. Organic Olive Oil
Olive oils can only be certified if they meet specific requirements in the way they are grown and produced. For olive oils to be organic, the olives must be grown on an organic farm that considers the environmental practices, biodiversity, and preservations of natural resources. In simpler words, olives have to be grown through simple and natural methods. Here are three requirements that differentiate organic olive oils from traditional.
- No pesticides are used when growing organic olives.
- Herbicides are also not used, meaning weeds and other unwanted plants are eliminated using manual methods.
- Only natural fertilizers are used to grow olives. This includes animal manures or composts in contrast to synthetic fertilizers or other artificial agents.
Now, the main question is, are organic olive oils better?
There is no simple answer to this question as the quality/ taste of the olive oil also depends on other factors such as what types and quality of olives were used, where they were grown, when they were picked, how they were milled, bottled, and how old or fresh they are.
Naturally grown organic olives are generally known to produce high-quality ones, but they also need to be picked at the right time with care, milled freshly. Distinguishing the organic and traditional oils depending on their taste can be a little challenging. However, consuming organic olive oils is known to be much more beneficial for health. For instance, organic olive oils don’t contain any unhealthy chemicals that can be harmful to our bodies. Additionally, consuming organic oils also means supporting sustainable businesses that care about the impact they make on the environment.
Learn more about the health benefits of organic olive oils in our previous article.
Avlaki’s Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Our olive oils are certified organic, verified extra virgin, vegan and allergen-free. Made with only excellent quality olives picked only in December when they are at their optimum taste and milled within 24 hours, our organic olive oils are guaranteed to be of the finest quality. Browse our current harvest range, tester sets, or special oil offers in our online shop.
Along with olive oils, we also produce hand-made olive oil soap bars that have no additives, chemicals, preservatives, or perfumes, made only from organic extra virgin olive oils. Browse our soap range here.