Frequently asked questions

It is the amount of free fatty acids in the oil — an indicator of quality and freshness, not of taste. The lower it is, the healthier the olives were and the faster they reached the press.

• Extra virgin — up to 0.8 %
• Virgin — up to 2 %
• Lampante (refined) — more than 2 %

In good early harvest oils the acidity is usually 0.2–0.4 %. The exact figure for each of our oils is given on its product page.

Almost everything is visible on the label and the bottle:

• “Extra virgin” and acidity up to 0.8 % (better 0.2–0.5 %)
• Freshness — what matters is not the best before date but the season the oil comes from. Extra virgin is at its best in the first 12–18 months after pressing, so it is worth asking which harvest you are buying
• Origin — a specific farm or region, not a “blend of EU oils”
• Dark glass or tin — it protects the oil from light and oxidation

And the price. A litre of real early harvest extra virgin cannot cost €10 — green olives give considerably less oil.

Natural olive compounds that give the oil its bitterness, its pepper and its bright aroma. They are antioxidants — they protect the oil itself from spoiling, so an oil with more polyphenols stays fresh longer.

A quality extra virgin holds between 200 and 800+ mg/kg. The most are found in early harvest oils.

The EU has an approved claim that olive oil polyphenols help protect blood lipids from oxidative damage. It applies when 20 g of such oil is consumed per day.

Early (October–November) — the olives are picked while still green. More polyphenols, a brighter grassy taste with bitterness and sharpness, longer freshness. The yield is smaller, so the price is higher.

Late (December–January) — the olives are fully ripe. A gentler, sweeter, nuttier taste with less bitterness. The yield is larger, the price lower.

Both can be extra virgin. We bring in only the early harvest.

This is not a flaw but a sign of polyphenols. Tasting panels count bitterness and pepper as positive qualities — their absence more often means the oil is old or weak.

The sharper that catch in the throat, the fresher the oil. Over a year it softens naturally.

The highest category. The oil is pressed mechanically, without chemicals and without heating above 27 °C, its acidity is no higher than 0.8 %, and a tasting panel finds no taste defect at all.

One defect is enough — and the oil can no longer be called extra virgin.

In a dark and cool place, ideally 14–18 °C. In its original packaging, tightly closed, away from the hob, the oven and the window.

What to avoid: the fridge (the oil thickens), plastic bottles for long storage, and any spot next to a heat source.

You can. The smoke point of extra virgin is around 190–210 °C, so it suits frying over medium heat, stewing, roasting and grilling — and it is more stable than most vegetable oils.

But an early harvest oil gives all of its taste cold. It is a pity to cook it away — better pour it over a finished dish and use a simpler oil for frying.

About 2–3 months. An unopened bottle is best used within 12–18 months of pressing.

Oil does not spoil like milk — it simply loses its aroma and its polyphenols step by step. So it is better to buy a smaller bottle more often than a large one once a year.

This is normal and even a good sign — in the cold the natural olive waxes crystallise. Heavily filtered industrial oil does not behave this way.

Keep it at room temperature and it becomes clear again. It has no effect on the taste.

A 500 ml bottle lasts about two months on average if the oil is used daily for salads and for finishing dishes. If you fry with it as well — sooner.

Orders placed before 14:00 on a working day are shipped the same day. The parcel reaches the locker within 1–2 working days.

From €49.99 it is free. For smaller orders the delivery cost is shown in the cart before payment.

Write to info@oliva.lt and attach a photo — we will replace it free of charge and without argument. It will cost you nothing.

Yes. An unopened item in undamaged packaging can be returned within 14 days of receipt, without giving a reason. Write to info@oliva.lt and we will arrange the return.

Yes. Some of the oils arrive with the producer’s gift box or bag — you can see this in the product photos. We also have ready gift sets.

If you want us to add a card with a message, leave a note with your order.

Subscribe to the newsletter and we will send a discount code for your first order. We will also let you know when a new harvest arrives. We write rarely, only when there is something worth saying.