What is Extra Virgin?

SCIABICA'S OLIVE OILS ARE ALL EXTRA VRIGIN
BUT WHAT DO THE OTHER GRADES OF OLIVE OIL MEAN?

Virgin is a category that simply means the olive oil is edible without the need of further treatment or the use of chemicals for extraction. The Extra sub-category was developed to ensure that the Virgin olive oil is delicious.There are many requirements for the Extra Virgin classification including Cold Pressing, low Free-Fatty Acid and what's called "perfect flavor". However, Extra Virgin simply means the olive oil is delicious "right out of the press". All of the natural flavor and health benefits are retained in Extra Virgin Olive Oil!

As you might imagine, there are olive oils that do not meet the healthy and delicious standards of Extra Virgin. Pay close attention to terms like "Pure" and "Extra Light" which were "unsuitable for human consumption", then extreme-heat refined, and do not have the flavor or health benefits of Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Take a look at the full list of the grades of olive oil below, and check out our FAQ for info about shelf life and other useful facts about olive oil. Need help choosing? click here

GRADES

Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Olive oil that has free acidity, expressed as oleic acid of not more than 0.8 grams per 100 grams (0.8%) and an organoleptic rating (The tasting of olive oil for flavor qualities and defects) of 6.5 or more. It must be cold pressed (no heat added to increase yield), unrefined, and be mechanically extracted (no chemicals).

Virgin Olive Oil: Olive oil that has free acidity, expressed as oleic acid of not more than 2 grams per 100 grams (2%) and an organoleptic rating (The tasting of olive oil for flavor qualities and defects) of 5.5 or more.

Refined Olive Oil: Produced from olive oil which must be refined (cooked in a vacuum) to produce an edible product by methods which do not lead to alterations in the initial glyceridic structure (the result is an essentially tasteless olive oil). This product is also known as "A" refined olive oil.

"Pure" Olive Oil: Olive oil which consists of a blend of refined olive oil and virgin olive oil, often called "Extra Light".

Refined Olive-Pomace Oil: Oil which is obtained by treating olive pomace with solvents is refined using methods which do not lead to alterations in the initial glyceridic structure.

Olive-Pomace Oil: Olive oil which consists of a blend of refined olive-pomace oil and virgin olive oil