Frequent Questions about Olive Oil

You can identify good olive oil primarily by its label: the more precisely the origin is stated, the more reliable the information. A specific region and a named mill say more than the generic statement "blend of oils from EU countries." In the glass, three things then matter: the aroma should be reminiscent of fresh grass, herbs, or green tomatoes, the taste should be clean, and a slight pungency should remain in the throat. Musty, pungent, or rancid notes are defects, not character.

D.O.P. stands for Denominazione di Origine Protetta, which means Protected Designation of Origin. For a D.O.P. oil, cultivation, harvesting, and pressing must take place within the specified area, and an independent body monitors compliance. The designation thus says something about origin and process, not automatically about taste. Our MANUFAKTUR line includes a D.O.P. variant.

Cold-pressed is a legally regulated term: During extraction, the oil must not exceed 27 degrees Celsius. Heat would increase the yield, but it comes at the cost of aroma and ingredients, hence the limit. Our oils are cold-pressed in our own mill in Paciano. However, cold-pressed alone does not say anything about the quality of the olives that went into it.

BIO means that the olive grove is cultivated according to the EU Organic Regulation and is inspected annually by an accredited organic control body, without chemical-synthetic pesticides and without mineral fertilizers. This is recognizable by the green EU organic logo and the control body number on the label. BIO is a statement about cultivation, not about taste. With us, you'll find BIO in both lines, as MANUFAKTUR BIO and as NO. 73 BIOLOGICO.

There are two common ways to produce flavored olive oils: Either citrus fruits, herbs, or chili are pressed together with the olives, or they release their aroma into the finished oil after pressing. Both methods are traditionally used and result in different flavors. When pressed together, the result is usually rounder and more subtle; when flavored afterwards, it is often clearer and more distinct. The method used for a particular variety is indicated on the respective label. We offer eight flavored varieties, in the MANUFAKTUR AROMA and NO. 73 AROMA lines.

Our olive oil comes from Paciano in Umbria and is pressed in our own mill, the Frantoio del Trasimeno. The business has been family-owned for over 50 years, meaning harvesting and pressing are done by the same hands. We use exclusively Italian olives. At the Masters of Olive Oil in Monte Carlo 2025, our oils were awarded one Platinum and seven Gold medals, plus a Gold from the DLG.

Yes. The smoke point of extra virgin olive oil is generally above 180 degrees Celsius, making it suitable for frying pans and ovens in normal household use. What is more important is which oil you use: When heated, some of the delicate flavours are lost, which is why an everyday oil like NO. 73 ORIGINALE is a more suitable choice. Finer oils show their strengths raw, over salad, soup or vegetables after cooking.

As a rule of thumb, the more restrained the oil, the more versatile it is; the more distinctive, the more specific. NO. 73 ORIGINALE is our entry-level oil for cooking, frying, and baking. The MANUFAKTUR oils are intended for moments where the oil's flavour should be prominent, for example, over tomatoes, fish, burrata, or simply with bread. The aromatic oils are seasoning oils: a few drops at the end instead of litres in the pan.

One tablespoon of olive oil is about 10 to 15 milliliters. A 500 ml bottle therefore lasts for about 35 to 50 tablespoons; if you use two tablespoons daily, it will last for about three to four weeks. For trying it out, we have our 100 ml bottles, and for frequent users, families, and restaurants, we have containers up to 5 liters. It's better to buy the amount you will use in the foreseeable future rather than the largest canister.

Store olive oil in a dark, cool, and tightly sealed place. Light, heat, and oxygen are the three factors that cause it to age, which is why the spot right next to the stove is the worst in the entire kitchen. About 14 to 18 degrees Celsius is ideal, a closed cabinet on an outer wall is perfectly sufficient for this. The oil does not need to be refrigerated: it will become cloudy and solid there, which does not harm it but makes dispensing unnecessarily difficult.

Dark glass blocks UV light, and light is, alongside heat and oxygen, the main reason olive oil goes rancid. In clear bottles under store or kitchen lighting, oil loses its flavor significantly faster. Glass also has the advantage of being taste-neutral and not imparting anything to the oil. If you have oil in a clear carafe on the table, plan to empty it within a few days.

No. A best-before date is not an expiry date; it indicates how long the manufacturer guarantees taste and properties. After that, your nose and tongue decide: If the oil still smells of olive and tastes clean, you can use it. If it smells rancid, like old nut oil or cardboard, it should be discarded. You'll find the date on every bottle. Opened bottles should be used up quickly; we recommend two to three months.

The difference lies in how much light and air reach the oil. The dark glass bottle is the standard solution for household use and for anything you want to taste. The canister is the affordable bulk option for frequent users, but it comes into contact with air every time it's poured, so it's best to decant it into a small bottle for daily use. With the bag-in-box, the inner bag collapses as oil is dispensed, so hardly any air remains, and the box is light-proof anyway. We offer sizes from 100 ml to 5 liters.

Within Germany, standard shipping costs 4.99 Euros, and express shipping costs 9.99 Euros. We deliver to EU countries for 13.99 Euros for standard and 39.99 Euros for express, and to countries outside the EU for 19.99 Euros. You will see the shipping costs again in the shopping cart before payment.

You have a 14-day right of withdrawal from the day you received the goods. To withdraw, a clear declaration to us is sufficient; you can find the form for this on the Withdrawal page. The full terms and conditions and exceptions are stated in our withdrawal policy.

You bear the cost of the return shipment. This is stated verbatim in our cancellation policy, along with the fourteen-day cancellation period from receipt of the goods. The situation is different if a delivery arrives damaged or incorrect: this is not a cancellation, but a warranty case. In this instance, please contact us with a photo via the contact form.

Yes, olive oil from a named mill works as a gift because it comes with a story and is still consumed. For smaller occasions, we have our gift boxes and discovery sets; for larger quantities, we offer containers up to 5 liters. Write to us via the contact form with the quantity, desired date, and delivery address, and we will get back to you with a proposal.