What types of olive oil are there?
The main types you’ll see sold online and in supermarkets are extra-virgin – sometimes called EVOO, refined olive oil and flavoured or “infused” olive oil.
Extra-virgin (EVOO) is the highest grade of olive oil you can buy. It’s extracted using the cold-pressing method, which ensures the olives are not heated to above 27°C. This preserves the flavour and antioxidant properties of the olives, and usually means the oil has a more aromatic flavour.
Not all extra-virgin oils are created equal, though. The industry isn’t well regulated, meaning some oils are of a much higher standard than others and so it pays to shop around. The best EVOO oils are typically used for salad dressings and drizzling over finished dishes.