Colors of olive oils: find out why differences occur in the shades of liquids

The colors of the oils range from golden to dark green. Understand the factors that promote these results.

Olive oil is a very old product, having been created more than 6 thousand years ago in Mesopotamia. Derived from the olive tree, olives are the fruits used to produce this oil known as “liquid gold”.

Most of the time, olive oils of different colors are the result of olives harvested at different points of ripeness.

In this article, we will better explain the colors of olive oils and the factors that leave the liquids with different shades. Keep reading!

What are the factors that influence the colors of olive oils?

Olive oil can come in different colors, ranging from golden to dark green.

The change in color is due to the maturation of the olive, which varies from green to black, passing through a purplish tone.

When olive oil is produced with greener olives, the liquid tends to take on this hue due to the high chlorophyll content.

If the liquid is extracted from more mature olives, the oil tends to be more golden, resulting from the presence of carotenes and xanthophylls in greater quantities.

So, the most determining factor for changing colors in olive oils is the degree of ripeness when the fruits are harvested from the olive groves.

But it is important to remember that, in an analysis of olive oil quality, the color of the product is not considered.

Filtering

The filtering process can also indicate the colors of olive oils. Liquids that have not gone through this process are cloudier.

Oils that have been filtered develop clearer colors, this happens because micro pieces of pomace and moisture are removed from the product in the process.

Colors of olive oils do not mean quality products

Many consumers use the color of olive oil as a parameter to determine whether the product is of quality. However, this factor is not relevant when carrying out a sensory analysis to ensure whether the olive oil is extra virgin or not.

According to the International Olive Council (IOC) , olive oils go through a rigorous quality process, with the chemical and sensorial parts of the product being analyzed.

A way of identify whether the olive oil is of quality It involves understanding how the product is being stored, whether in the mill where it is grown and harvested or on the supermarket shelves, in addition to learning how to taste the olive oil to check its freshness.

Therefore, purchasing olive oil from a company where you have the opportunity to learn about the entire production process makes a difference.

Discover Lagar H olive oils and their production

Located in Cachoeira do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Lagar H invests in respect for nature and people by producing quality, 100% Brazilian extra virgin olive oil.

Production consists of four stages: Planting, Harvesting, Extraction and Provenance.

At each step, the mill's team of experts monitors the development of the olives until bottling, carried out in tamper-proof bottles. Learn more about the processes in this article .
Access our website and purchase surprising extra virgin olive oil.