Mild-Flavored Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Sometimes, after receiving phone calls from customers, we are asked whether we have a mild extra virgin olive oil. In most cases, they are looking for an extra virgin olive oil with a neither bitter nor pungent taste, or simply one without any pungent notes. Some customers describe it as an oil that "does not grip the throat".

With these characteristics, the commercial category that usually meets these requirements is mild olive oil (formerly known as 0.4°), which is a blend of refined olive oil, which has very little flavor, and a percentage (approximately 10%) of Virgin or Extra Virgin Olive Oil to give it a slight touch of flavor. However, it is not Extra Virgin Olive Oil; it is a blend, so the health benefits associated with Extra Virgin Olive Oil are diluted.

There is another solution.

Varieties of extra virgin olive oil with a mild flavor

There are some olive varieties that naturally produce Extra Virgin Olive Oil with a mild flavor. Arbequina, for example, is one of them, producing a very mild olive oil that is gentle on the palate and has very little bitterness.

Arbequina is a widely cultivated variety and is usually more readily available and affordable than other mild-flavored varieties.

Although it is a mild-flavored variety, it is not advisable to consume it at the beginning of the harvest season, when the olives are still very green, as the oil will not be as mild as you might expect. We also recommend choosing filtered oil if you are looking for a smoother and more delicate profile.

Uses of extra-mild virgin olive oil

We recommend using extra-mild Extra Virgin Olive Oil for children, particularly at breakfast and as a snack. We also recommend it for baking, as a substitute for butter, and for making mayonnaise instead of using sunflower oil, although the result may not appeal to everyone.