How to Recognize Real Premium Olive Oil
Welcome to our journey into the world of high-quality olive oils — a world full of aromas, secrets, and the fine details that make a real difference.
Did you know that an olive oil can have perfect lab values — even an impressive acidity level of just 0.2% — and still lose its “Extra Virgin” status?
Yes, a single flaw in aroma or taste is enough to downgrade an oil from Extra Virgin to just Virgin. And if the defect is strong enough, it can even be declared unfit for consumption — regardless of its chemical profile.
🧪 Sensory Analysis Over Lab Tests
Olive oil is the only food product that legally requires a tasting to determine its quality grade. Not even wine or cheese is held to this standard.
A panel of at least seven certified tasters independently conducts what’s called an organoleptic analysis — a full sensory evaluation, where they assess:
👃 Fruitiness
👅 Bitterness
🌶️ Pungency
👃 How to Test Fruitiness at Home
You can try this simple test yourself:
- Hold an olive oil sample about 5 fingers away from your nose.
- If you can still smell it clearly, that’s 5 points for fruitiness.
- If you have to bring it closer, the aroma — and likely the quality — is weaker.
Top-quality extra virgin oils, like Pamako, offer vibrant and unmistakable notes like:
🍏 Green apple
🌿 Fresh-cut grass
🥑 Avocado
🌰 Green almond
🥝 Kiwi
🍓 Strawberry
🌼 Artichoke
Believe it or not: Olive oil has more aromatic categories than wine!
👅 Bitterness & Pungency = Health in Every Drop
Now take a small sip and inhale a bit of air — this releases the full spectrum of flavors.
That bitterness and peppery kick? That’s thanks to the polyphenols — powerful antioxidants that not only shape the taste but also offer real health benefits:
✅ Lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol
✅ Reduce inflammation
✅ Support metabolism and immune health
✅ Help with autoimmune disorders and developmental issues in children
✅ Boost brain function and heart health
Pamako contains over 2000 mg/kg of polyphenols — one of the highest concentrations ever certified worldwide.
🫒 Pamako – Wild Olive Oil from the Mountains of Crete
Pamako comes from olive trees growing at 500–700 meters above sea level, in rocky, wild terrain. These trees are:
Over 200 years old (some more than 18 meters tall!)
Hand-harvested using electric combs
Picked when still green for maximum phenolic content
Cold-pressed the same day, below 27 °C
Stored under nitrogen in stainless steel tanks to prevent oxidation
Bottled by hand with care and tradition
🍾 The Bottle Matters – And So Does What’s Inside
Every detail of Pamako is designed to protect its quality:
Thick black Murano glass shields the oil from light and heat
A natural oak cork sealed with acacia resin glue – no plastic ever touches the oil
Sustainable, plastic-free packaging that keeps the oil fresh and the polyphenols active
This level of craftsmanship is rare — and we’re honest:
🔸 Sometimes, the natural cork can break upon opening.
🔸 It's rare, and the producer is working to improve it while staying true to their values.
https://www.pamako.gr/
