How Olive Oil Taste Like: Understanding the Flavour and Health Power of Real Extra Virgin Olive Oil
When people try high-quality olive oil for the first time, one of the most common questions we hear is: "How olive oil taste like?" The answer may surprise you, because real extra virgin olive oil doesn’t taste bland or oily. In fact, it can be spicy, bitter, even a little peppery, especially if it's rich in polyphenols, the natural antioxidants that make olive oil both flavorful and incredibly healthy. In this post, we’ll break down the complex taste of olive oil, what those strong sensations actually mean, and why a little burn in the throat could be a very good thing.
So, How Olive Oil Taste Like?
Good quality extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) should have a fresh, fruity aroma, with flavors that can range from grassy, green, and herbaceous to nutty or even artichoke-like. But two defining characteristics set high-quality EVOO apart: Bitterness and Pungency (that spicy, burning sensation in the throat). These aren’t flaws, they are signs of freshness and health benefits.
What Causes the Spicy and Burning Sensation?
That slight burn or tickle in the back of your throat when tasting EVOO comes from a group of compounds called polyphenols, natural plant-based antioxidants found in olive oil. One of the most famous polyphenols, oleocanthal, is known for causing that peppery kick and it also has anti-inflammatory properties comparable to ibuprofen! So next time olive oil makes you cough, don’t worry it’s a sign that your oil is alive and full of health-boosting compounds.
Why Does Olive Oil Taste Bitter?
Bitterness in olive oil is also due to polyphenols and other natural compounds in fresh, cold-pressed oils. This bitterness is especially present in early harvest oils, when olives are still green and packed with nutrients. While some might find bitter oil unusual at first, it’s actually an indicator of authentic, unrefined extra virgin olive oil, not the mass-produced, filtered oils that lack both flavor and nutrition.
Does Less Taste Mean Less Nutrition?
In short: yes. Olive oils that taste mild, bland, or flat often come from refined or low-grade processes where polyphenols are lost. The spicy, bitter, and aromatic qualities in olive oil are directly tied to its antioxidant content. So, if your olive oil doesn't burn a little, or taste bitter, it may also be lacking the nutritional punch that makes EVOO a superfood.
Which Olive Oil Tastes Less Bitter or Spicy?
Some late-harvest olive oils, made from riper olives, do tend to have milder flavor profiles. These oils are smoother, less peppery, and more buttery. While still valuable, they typically contain fewer polyphenols than early-harvest varieties. If you’re new to olive oil, you may start with a mild EVOO, but we recommend gradually exploring robust oils for both flavor complexity and health benefits.
Taste the Difference: Try Pelops Premium Olive Oil
At Pelops, we take pride in producing authentic Greek extra virgin olive oil, crafted using early harvest olives and cold extraction methods to preserve every drop of flavor and nutrition.
👉 Explore our Pelops Premium Olive Oil collection here
Whether you’re drizzling it over fresh salads, dipping warm bread, or finishing roasted vegetables, you’ll immediately notice the freshness, balance of bitterness and spice, and the rich, complex flavor of true EVOO.
Why Choose Pelops?
✅ High in polyphenols
✅ Cold-pressed within hours of harvest
✅ Sustainably grown in Greek olive groves
✅ Rich, bold flavor with a smooth finish