How to Choose the Best Olive Oil in India?

1. How to Choose the Best Olive Oil in India? While olive oil is very popular, consumers often get confused regarding which variant to purchase. Here is a brief overview of the various types of olive oil in India and their suitable purposes. Olive oil is known to be one of the healthiest among the various vegetable oils. It has gained considerable popularity among health-conscious consumers due to the several benefits that olive oil comes with. However, there are various types of olive oils available in the market and you might have trouble picking the healthiest cooking oil among them. Let us first take a look at the variations of olive oil. Types of olive oil Olive oil can be classified into five major types, mostly depending on how much processing it has undergone. On this note, it is to be remembered that lesser the oil is refined, higher the quality. The four major types of olive oil are: Extra virgin olive oil: This is known to be the purest form of olive oil and is almost unprocessed. As a result, it is free of added chemicals. Extra virgin olive oil is very rich in antioxidants, minerals and vitamins as it comes directly from the olives. This oil is golden-green in colour and carries a certain flavour. However, extra virgin olive oil is not suitable for cooking at high temperatures as it has a very low smoking point. This oil is mostly sprinkled over salads and other cold dishes to add flavour and nutrients Virgin Olive Oil: Slightly lower in quality compared to extra virgin olive oil, this one is suitable for cooking purposes. Virgin olive oil too, is free from extra chemicals. However, it contains slightly higher amounts of oleic acid compared to its extra virgin variation. While you may use virgin olive oil to cook most dishes, it is not recommended for deep frying. Doing so would destroy the vitamins due to the low smoking point. Both extra virgin and virgin olive oils carry the slight bitterness of olive fruits. Refined olive oil: This is the most commonly used olive oil in India for cooking purposes. While it is easily available in the grocery stores, its quality is much lower than the above-mentioned olive oils. It carries lesser nutrients and vitamins and even tastes different. The anti-inflammatory and ant-oxidant properties, which are the most important reason behind the health benefits of olive oil are absent in this one. Refined olive oil also lacks the bitter taste. However, it can be used for high-heat cooking and is suitable for Indian dishes. Light olive oil: This olive oil carries neither any flavour nor aroma. It is the lowest quality olive oil available in the market and has undergone the most

2. processing. However, it has the highest smoke point among the various olive oils and can be used to cook at high temperatures. Pure olive oil: This oil is generated by blending refined olive oil and extra virgin olive oil. Compared to virgin olive oil, it is lower in terms of nutritional value. However, this oil isn’t suitable for cooking purposes as it adds an unwanted and distinct smell to dishes. This should help you pick a low cholesterol cooking oil suitable for your purposes. Depending on what you are planning to use the oil for and how crucial the health benefits are to you, you may purchase any of the above described olive oils.