What’s Special About Italian Olive Oil?

Italy is the second producer of olive oil in the world after Spain. On average, 464.000 tons of Italian olive oil are produced every year. In Italy there are 41 PDO areas. PDO (protected denomination of origin) is a protection mark assigned by the EU to food products whose peculiar characteristics depends on the area of production. 

This means that the Italian olive oil from Puglia is different from the one from Umbria. Even within the same region, you will have sub-areas with products and traditions different from each other.

Italian Olive Oil Production in Detail

In Italy two millions of hectares (around 2.5 millions of acres) are dedicated to olive farming , both exclusively or in conjunction with other species, usually grapevine, citrus fruits and almonds. The presence of other species, trees, fruit trees and herbs, contributes to the final aroma of the extra virgin olive oil. 

The south of Italy accounts for about 78% of the production, followed by the central regions (20%) and finally the northern regions with only 2%. This is because, apart from microclimatic exceptions, the climate in the north of Italy is too rigid for olive farming. 

The farms producing Italian olive oil are more than a million. This figure shows how strong the small scale production still is in Italy.

Avoid the Italian Olive Oil Scam

The lack of clarity of the labelling system allowed some scams to happen in the past. Consumers were cheated into believing they were buying Italian olive oil whereas it was actually from Spain, Tunisia or Morocco. Olive oil producers have been lobbying hard ever since, to introduce new, stricter regulations to the labelling system in order to prevent frauds. On the other hand, consumers need to be informed and assisted in their purchasing choices. Buying directly from the farm or through a trusted company, willing to provide all the documents and information needed to verify the genuineness of the olive oil, is a good practice to avoid scams and promote honest work.

Buy Italian Olive Oil From This Trusted Shop

Olivocracy.co.uk is a trusted organic and biodynamic condiments shop in London, shipping all over the UK. They stock Italian olive oil, extra virgin, organic and biodynamic, single origin (amazing for cooking and everyday use) and single estate (perfect to finish your most refined dishes). Contact them via phone, email or social media for any info you might need to make an informed choice.