The Best Olive Oil Brands for Nutrient-Dense and Non-Oxidized Olive Oil

Have you ever been to an olive oil tasting? Whether you’re in Europe or the United States, olive oil tastings are a fun way to get to know the different blends of this Mediterranean diet staple.

But if there’s anything you take away from an olive oil tasting, it’s that not all olive oils are created the same.

In fact, you’re probably wondering how the olive oil on your pantry shelf tastes so different from the selection at an olive oil tasting. There are a few reasons for this…

Olive oil fraud in Europe is at an all-time high, meaning even imported oils are mislabeled or mixed with cheaper oils, like industrial seed oils. And, in the United States, olive oil testing and labeling aren’t well monitored.

This is why most Americans have never tasted real olive oil.

You should feel confident that the olive oil you’re buying is authentic and full of health benefits. Let’s explore the best olive oil brands.

Table of Contents:

• Benefits of Olive Oil
• What to Look For
• Recommended Olive Oil Brands
• Invest in Your Olive Oil Or Skip It

The Benefits of Olive Oil

Olive oil gained popularity in the 1990s as modern families sought a healthy alternative to (so-called unhealthy) saturated fats and (definitely unhealthy) hydrogenated oils. Around the same time, the Mediterranean diet gained recognition as one of the healthiest diets in the world. It was a welcome alternative for families who were used to cooking with margarine and shortening.

Olive oil has been a Mediterranean diet staple for thousands of years (called “The Great Healer” by Hippocrates), and it comes with numerous health benefits.

• Oleic Acid (or Omega-9). This is a nonessential fatty acid that can help reduce bad cholesterol levels and improve insulin resistance.
• Antioxidant Rich. Olive oil is a good choice to promote healthy cells. It contains antioxidants to scavenge free radicals and reduce the risk of illness.
• Anti-Inflammatory. Thanks to its powerful polyphenol and antioxidant content, extra virgin olive oil is known for its powerful ability to reduce inflammation. It can help treat chronic disease and even work as a chronic pain reliever.
• It’s a Better Alternative. Over the years, olive oil has shown consistent health benefits, unlike other cooking oils (like saturated fats, industrial seed oils, and hydrogenated oils) that are continually debated for their nutritional benefits.

Of course, those powerful olive oil benefits are only present when you buy a high-quality and authentic olive oil brand.

What to Look for in an Olive Oil Brand

If you want to know whether your current olive oil blend is authentic or simply need ideas for how to grocery shop, here are some essentials to look for in a high-quality olive oil brand.

Imported from Europe

While there is plenty of olive oil fraud in Europe, the European Union still tends to have stricter standards and grading systems than those in the United States. If you do purchase a bottle of olive oil from Europe, ensure it meets all other criteria — it comes in a dark bottle, is single origin, and has a harvest date.

No Additives or Artificial Colors

This should go without saying, but a quality olive oil brand shouldn’t ever include artificial colors or additives. This is a clear sign that the oil is toxic.

Non-Rancid and Non-Diluted Olive Oil

Most olive oil brands on grocery store shelves are rancid or diluted (or both!). For some people, it’s possible to notice the difference by looking at or tasting the oil — but this is difficult if you’ve never had authentic olive oil to compare it to. If possible, we recommend attending an olive oil tasting to truly understand what high-quality olive oil should look, taste, and smell like.

Single Origin Olive Oil

This means that your olive oil comes from one region. Preferably, the olive oil is grown, extracted, and packaged all on the same farm. If the back of your olive oil bottle says it’s grown in Italy but packaged in another country, this leaves room for error, and the oil may not be authentic or healthy.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)

Olive oil that’s extra virgin is processed without high heat or chemical solvents. Typically, they are much higher quality than regular olive oil, which can include fillers and easily turn rancid due to high-heat processing. Companies don’t always meet the high standards for extra virgin olive oil, though. There are plenty of fraudulent oils on the market, which is why it’s important to look for other small details on the bottle (like the polyphenol count, single origin, and harvest date).

High Polyphenol Count

The polyphenol count of your olive oil can give you information about the health benefits of the oil (particularly the cellular benefits, since polyphenols are antioxidants). But it can also tell you the age of the olive trees producing your oil. Older olive trees typically produce better olive oil — and this oil may even contain more nutrients, thanks to the tree's deep roots. Olive oil brands that include a polyphenol count on the bottle know exactly where their oil comes from and are willing to be transparent with customers.

Buy Small Containers of Olive Oil

Unless you have a large family, it’s best to not purchase huge bottles of olive oil (like the ones at Costco). It’s unlikely you’ll be able to get through this much oil before it goes rancid.

Tinted Glass Bottles

Light exposure causes pure olive oil to break down, which is why authentic olive oils are stored in dark or tinted glass bottles. A dark bottle doesn’t mean your olive oil brand is authentic, but it does show that extra care in packaging has been taken to preserve the oil’s nutrients.

Olive Oil Brands We Recommend

These are our favorite olive oil brands that check the boxes for accessibility, authenticity, and maximum health benefits.

Graza

Found at Whole Foods and online, Graza may be the most accessible authentic olive oil on the market. It’s intentionally packed for easy use and to keep olive oil fresh. It’s also eco-friendly — with refillable bottles. Graza olive oil has an extremely high polyphenol count, meaning it’s extra nutrient-dense and sourced from ancient olive trees located in Spain. It also has two different blends, one intended for salads, cold foods, and to use as a dipping sauce, and the other designed for low-medium heat cooking.

Brightland

A single-origin oil, Brightland sources its olives from a California farm. Each olive oil bottle includes a harvest date and details about processing — so you know exactly how and where it was made. Brightland is unique to other high-quality olive oil brands since the brand produces dozens of different flavors and infusions (similar to what you’d experience at an olive oil tasting).

Bariani

This brand combines the ancient Italian art of olive oil making with the American dream — a family-owned company producing olive oil from a California farm. Each bottle of Bariani olive oil includes a harvest date and details about the olives used. Some early harvest blends contain high levels of chlorophyll, and each bottle has details about the polyphenol and free fatty acid content. The oil is hand-harvested, cold-extracted, and unfiltered.

Local Brands

Depending on where you live, you can source high-quality olive oil from local farmers. If you can’t find bottles available at your local farmer’s market, ask around to see if other farmers like a specific local brand.

The Choice is Simple: Invest in Your Olive Oil Or Skip It

When it comes to healthy food, most people think about ingredients, right?

We check the back of our food labels for fillers, artificial flavors, and chemicals. But we don’t always think about how the food is processed. Olive oil is a prime example of this. We can pay top dollar for organic olive oil, but if it’s processed with high heat and extracted with chemicals (which you would never know by reading the label), the nutritional benefits are almost nonexistent.

This is why it’s so important to talk with local farmers and know where your food comes from and how it’s processed. Not just for olive oil, but for everyday essentials, like fruits, grains, meat, and more.

While authentic olive oil is a perfectly healthy addition to your diet, you also need to consume essential fatty acids critical for your cellular health. That’s why we developed BodyBio Balance Oil, a plant-based source of omega-6 and omega-3 essential fatty acids, never heat treated and always carefully processed for a product that truly benefits your cells.

Learn more about BodyBio Balance Oil