Ciao!

Just a few years ago, olive oil was an exotic ingredient in American cooking. But today, you have so many choices it could make you dizzy. What is good? How do you choose?
As a third generation mastro oleario, let me help ansewer.

First, a little about olives and their oil.

Olives are a fruit, and like any fruit, have seasons and degrees of ripeness. The region where they are grown greatly affects their character, and thus the character of the oil they will produce. For Monini Extra Virgin Olive Oils we choose 100% Italian olive oil, and work diligently to harmonize the tastes of the diverses regions of Italy - from mild in the North to spicy in the South, into a balanced composition. Our well-balanced "Monini" taste is what has made us #1 in Italy for generations.

Light, lighter, lighest?

Every olive oil has the same cholesterol and fat content. When an oil is labeled "light" this refers only to the color and flavor. "Light" oils are diluted, with a small quantity of olive oil blended in for taste. If you have tried these you may not have experienced the wonderful things 100% extra virgin olive oil can do for a dish.

Think differently about olive oil.

Do you think of oil as something to make your food come out of the pan? In Italy, oil is a flavor as important as any in your dish. That is why we offer so many varieties of oil. Each is composed of different types of olives, picked at different stages of the maturation process, and pressed whitin hours of harvest. Then the oils are either left unfiltered for a bolder taste or filtered for a smoother taste. The resulting character of each oil is very different and will give you a wonderful change in your dishes. For more, see our website, where we can tell you in detail.

Pure vs. Extra Virgin.

Olive oil is the only time being "pure" is a bad thing.
"Pure" is chemically refined oil with a little extra virgin mixed back in for flavor -ugh! Extra Virgin is squeezed straight from the olives without chemicals and has an acidity of less than 1 percent. It is rich??? in polyphenois - the antioxidants that we all need.
As my friends know, I could go on about olive oil forever, but perhaps you have heard enough! If not please navigate our website for more information and as our gift ask for a Free tasting Guide and a sample of olive oil.

I would like to know what you think!

Buona Fortuna