What Is New Season Olive Oil? Olio Nuovo Explained

New season olive oil is extra virgin olive oil pressed from the year's first harvest and sold within weeks of milling. Italians call it olio nuovo; in Spain you will see aceite nuevo or primera cosecha. It is the freshest olive oil you can buy, and it tastes like it: green, grassy, bitter and peppery.

When does new season olive oil arrive?

In the northern hemisphere, olives are harvested from October to January. The first oils reach shops from November. Our own Early Harvest olives are picked green in mid-October, and the new 2026 harvest lands in the UK in mid-November. You can read more in New Harvest Olive Oil 2026: When Does It Arrive?

How does it taste?

Freshly pressed oil is at its most intense. Expect:

• Colour: often vivid green, sometimes slightly cloudy if it hasn't been filtered.

• Aroma: cut grass, tomato leaf, green apple, artichoke or almond.

• Taste: fruity at first, then bitterness on the tongue and a peppery catch in the throat.

That bitterness and pepperiness come from natural polyphenols, which are highest when oil is young. Over the following months the flavour softens. See What Is Oleocanthal? for why good oil can make you cough.

Is new season oil better?

It is not a separate grade. New season oil must meet the same extra virgin standard as any other. What changes is freshness. Olive oil is a fruit juice, and like any juice it is best young. Light, heat and air slowly reduce its aroma and polyphenols, so a bottle from this season will taste livelier than one from last year.

How long does it keep?

Unopened, a good extra virgin olive oil keeps for around 18 months from pressing if stored cool and dark. Once opened, aim to finish it within 6 to 8 weeks. Unfiltered new season oil is best used within a few months, because the fine particles in it can affect flavour over time.

How to use new season olive oil

Use it raw, where you can taste it:

• Drizzled over warm bread or toast, with a pinch of sea salt

• Over soups, beans and lentils just before serving

• On grilled vegetables, fish or steak

• In simple dressings with lemon or vinegar

Save older or everyday oil, such as Master Miller, for cooking.

Frequently asked questions

Is olio nuovo the same as extra virgin olive oil?

Yes. Olio nuovo is extra virgin olive oil from the newest harvest. The name describes its age, not its grade.

Why is new season olive oil green?

Young oil from green olives contains more chlorophyll. The colour fades over time and is not a measure of quality on its own.

Can you cook with new season olive oil?

You can, but heat dulls its fresh flavour. Most people keep it for drizzling and finishing.