Extra Virgin Olive Oil | Meaning, Quality and Grade
Extra virgin olive oil.
Three words that appear on countless bottles.
But what do they actually mean?
Is every extra virgin olive oil automatically excellent?
Does a particularly low acidity level automatically mean better taste?
Must good olive oil be bitter or pungent?
And what additional information is needed when you want to compare two high-quality olive oils?
The most important distinction is:
Extra virgin olive oil is a legally defined grade.
It is an important foundation for quality.
But it does not yet answer all questions regarding olive variety, origin, harvest, sensory profile, polyphenols, processing, or personal preference.
The grade opens the door. The actual assessment begins after that.
Status of legal and professional classification: September 2026.
What does extra virgin olive oil mean?
Extra virgin olive oil is the highest grade among virgin olive oils.
Internationally, the English term is often used:
Extra Virgin Olive Oil | EVOO
Virgin olive oils are obtained directly from the fruits of the olive tree.
According to the European definition, only mechanical or other physical means may be used under conditions that do not lead to an unacceptable alteration of the oil.
The treatment steps include in particular:
- Washing
- Decanting
- Centrifuging
- Filtering
Refining is not part of the production of an extra virgin olive oil.
Extraction with solvents is also not included.
But the production method alone is not enough.
In order for an oil to be marketed as extra virgin olive oil, it must additionally meet the prescribed chemical and sensory requirements.
Extra virgin olive oil | The most important limit values
The grade is not defined by a single number.
Current quality characteristics include, among others:
| Characteristic | Extra virgin olive oil |
|---|---|
| Free acidity | max. 0.80 % |
| Peroxide value | max. 20.0 meq O₂/kg |
| K232 | max. 2.50 |
| K268 or K270 | max. 0.22 |
| ΔK | max. 0.01 |
| Median of defects | 0.0 |
| Median of fruitiness | greater than 0.0 |
| Fatty acid ethyl esters | max. 35 mg/kg |
