How to Taste Extra Virgin Olive Oil at Home

Updated October 2026 · By Andalucian Olives, a UK olive oil business in Lytham St Annes

Quick answer: pour a little oil into a small glass, warm it in your hand, smell it, then sip and draw in air. Good extra virgin olive oil smells fresh and fruity, tastes slightly bitter and leaves a peppery catch in the throat. Musty, greasy or vinegary smells are signs of a poor or old oil.

What you need

• A small glass or cup for each oil

• A slice of apple and a glass of water to clean your palate

• Oils at room temperature

Four steps

1. Warm: pour about a tablespoon into the glass, cover it with one hand and cup it in the other for a minute to release the aroma.

2. Smell: uncover and breathe in. Fresh oils smell of cut grass, green apple, tomato leaf, artichoke or almond.

3. Sip: take a small sip, then draw in air through your teeth so the oil spreads across your mouth.

4. Swallow: notice any bitterness on the tongue and any peppery tickle in the throat. Some people even cough, which tasters treat as a compliment.

What the flavours mean

Fruitiness shows the oil came from fresh, healthy olives. Bitterness and pepper come from the oil's natural polyphenols, and are strongest in early harvest oils made from green olives. Our Early Harvest oil, with over 500 mg/kg of polyphenols, has a noticeable peppery finish; our Master Miller has notes of fresh grass, green apple, almond and kiwi with a clean peppery finish.

Signs of a poor oil

• Musty or muddy smells

• Smells of vinegar or wine

• A greasy feel with no flavour

• Rancid notes, like old nuts or crayons

Frequently asked questions

Why does my olive oil make me cough?

That peppery catch comes from polyphenols, and is a sign of a fresh, high-quality extra virgin olive oil.

Should good olive oil be green?

Not necessarily. Colour depends on the olives and when they were picked, and it is not a reliable sign of quality. Smell and taste tell you far more.