What is early harvest olive oil and why is it so special?
Have you ever seen an oil with an incredibly intense green color? It was very likely a first harvest olive oil, also known as early harvest oil. An interesting product, to say the least!
In this post we take a detailed look at early green olive oil: we explain why it has that color, how it differs from other types of oil, and much more. Shall we get started?
Definition of early harvest oils
An early harvest oil is obtained from the youngest olives, that is, those that are harvested when they are not yet fully ripe. This harvest usually takes place between October and December.
This is an olive oil with a deep green color, a color that can be explained by the high chlorophyll content of the olives used to make it. However, in the case of the Empeltre variety, the color is a deep golden tone.
Differences between early harvest oil and conventional oil
What sets early green olive oil apart from any other oil is, essentially, the moment when the olives are harvested, whatever the variety.
This harvest is carried out just as the tree is beginning the so-called lipogenesis process, during which the oil produced by the olive tree begins to accumulate in the fruit.
As a result, the percentage of liquid gold contained in each olive is still very small: around 10%, whereas in a ripe olive (one that is harvested between December and January), it is usually around 20%.
This difference in harvest stage also means the final product is different in terms of color, aroma and flavor.
Because these are olives harvested at the veraison stage (the phase in which they start to ripen and change color), they are a more intense green or golden shade, and this explains why early harvest EVOO also has this color.
In addition, this intensity is also reflected in its deeper aroma and its more complex flavor, with bitter and peppery notes. In general, early harvest oil tends to offer extremely high organoleptic quality, as long as it is extra virgin olive oil.
Benefits and properties of first harvest olive oil
So, is it worth trying early harvest oil? Absolutely yes, because it is a premium olive oil.
Its main benefits include:
- It is an oil with a high polyphenol content, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds that help prevent numerous diseases.
- Thanks to its balanced content of different types of fats, it helps regulate cholesterol levels.
- This oil, richer in antioxidants, is also high in vitamin E, which helps us fight cellular aging.
Recommended uses in cooking and nutrition
If you want to enjoy the health benefits of early harvest olive oil, we recommend consuming it raw so it preserves all its properties.
You can try our toast ideas with olive oil or enjoy it in a salad or vegetable dish, for example. What’s more, in baking, the oil can be a wonderful substitute for butter – did you know that?
How to identify a good early harvest oil on the market?
If you’re not sure how to tell an early harvest olive oil apart from any other, don’t worry.
You can start by looking at its color, but don’t forget that the harvest time is not the only factor that influences that color. The olive variety, for example, can also determine its shade.
In addition, if what you’re looking for is a gourmet early harvest oil, you need to make sure it is extra virgin olive oil, meaning an olive oil of the highest quality.
And remember: EVOO can be early harvest or not, but whenever it is extra virgin, it will be of superior quality. That’s the most important thing!
Where to buy early harvest extra virgin olive oil?
Are you looking for a first harvest extra virgin olive oil that will truly surprise you? Choose BelOleum, our liquid gold from Aragon. It will leave you speechless!
Since 1879, we have been producing it in our family mill located in Belchite. Years and years of history in which we have created a high-end olive oil that is a genuine treat for all your senses.
We also offer three different varieties of EVOO: Empeltre, Arbequina and Selection, our perfect combination of the first two.
What are you waiting for to try them? Give them a try as soon as you can!
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