Is olive oil raw

[VeryBerry]

I buy extra virgin, organic, cold pressed olive oil. I am guessing cold pressed means that no heat was applied when making it. Is it considered raw?

Does anyone have any suggestion on which brands of olive oil are best? Some of the oils are quite expensive, I don't understand how they are different.

[Revvell]

This is the brand a lot of "raw foodists" use: http://www.barianioliveoil.com/

[rawpriestess]

extra virgin olive oil means it is the first pressing of the olives, it is the best kind, the most pure, virgin olive oil is the next pressing, and olive oil the next, there may be even more pressings, who knows.

some use hot water, and some use alcohol to pull out the oils, UGH!!

but the cold pressed ONLY means that no hot water was used, it does NOT mean raw, because the friction of the presses can get as hot as 280 degrees, which is really hot, so us Raw fooders, usually buy from Bariani or there are a couple of other brands too,

I buy from Living tree (only because I know one of the relatives, who sells it to me wholesale by the case) and I know Alissa sells it too, so hers must be good.

sorry to burst your bubble, but if you are eating it plane then you will be able to taste the difference in the really good stuff, I used to dip bread in it, and it was better than butter, super smooth and delicious, I still buy the best, it retails for $39 for one liter. YIKES, but worth every penny!!!

[VeryBerry]

Thank.

I will check if these brands are available here in Toronto.

[maryonherway]

I just got my first bottle of Bariani today - worth every penny! What a difference in flavors! I think the prices on the website http://www.barianioliveoil.com/ are really very good. I was in San Francisco a couple of weekends ago and at the open-air market at Embarcadero Center the price was quite a bit higher - and still less expensive than at Whole Foods! I highly recommend it.

[alex]

VeryBerry:

Since you are in Toronto, go to Noah's (http://www.torontoholisticdirectory.com/view.php?id=671&type=banner2&cat=81) - they actually have four locations (phone them for the other locations) and pick up:

Orphee Kitchen's Choice Organic Olive Oil

This oil is extra virgin, cold pressed (meaningless marketing term) and is unrefined.

Any oil that you use: the two important words to look for on the label are: organic and unrefined. Unless these two words are included on the label, do not use the oil.

Also I would strongly recommend that you read: Fats that Heal Fats that Kill by Udo Erasmus

Hope this helps


alex

[exurb]

VeryBerry, I think some countries now regulate their olive oil and use of the term "cold pressed." Alex is right that it is generally meaningless, as if they heat to 450F that could be considered "cold" compared with 500F. But you may want to check into which countries regulate and what that means. I am told then you can get a raw product for a great price if you know which countries regulate this and what the regulations mean.

I have seen olive oil for sale in the pantry section at the restaurant Live, but I don't know how precisely raw it is.

Let us know what you find out, as I'm almost out. I haven't seen the Bariani in any stores here (not even WholeFoods).

Another alternative I like for its super freshness is to go to www.manitobahempharvest.com They have hemp oil and they will press it the very day you place your order, so to me you can't get any fresher than that. They also declare that they keep it under the critical temp. Their stuff is available in the fridge at Loblaws, but if you order it it's even fresher. I can't say enough about that company's products.

[maryonherway]

Exurb - I suspect that, aside from Bariani's website, it will be difficult to locate their Olive Oil in the stores unless you live in California. They are a very small family operation in Elk Grove, near Sacramento, and their retail trade is very limited. To be honest, I'm not sure if they even have it in all the California Whole Foods stores. Best to use the website, prices are much better, too. I hope you find one you like!

[Conscious Midwife]

but the cold pressed ONLY means that no hot water was used, it does NOT mean raw, because the friction of the presses can get as hot as 280 degrees, which is really hot, so us Raw fooders, usually buy from Bariani or there are a couple of other brands too,

I still buy the best, it retails for $39 for one liter. YIKES, but worth every penny!!!


Hmm soknow olive stomping huh for the first pressing :D

I must be buying the wrong stuff hadn't purchased any at $39/liter

and I thought I was doing good with first cold pressed organic straight form greece by way of CA. :( UGggggggggggh

My % Raw just dropped another 10% cause I consume Olive Oil daily :o

[RawMorgan]

Hey there...I live in Canada as well (in Hamilton, Ontario) and have recently found a company called "Silver Leaf" olive oil at The Organic Garage in Oakville...it's near Whole Foods, but way cheaper! I believe this oil is raw as the flyer states they don't heat the oil over 60* Celcius in order to preserve the vital nutrients and enzymes. I believe they sell bottled raw olives as well. The taste is very similar to Bariani. Hope this helps! Morgan

[Pierre]

60 °C is hot enough to cook meat. According to Comiendo Pura Vida, the limit is 47 °C. That's for enzymes; I don't know the temperature limit for oils.

[alex]

Another alternative I like for its super freshness is to go to www.manitobahempharvest.com They have hemp oil and they will press it the very day you place your order, so to me you can't get any fresher than that. They also declare that they keep it under the critical temp. Their stuff is available in the fridge at Loblaws, but if you order it it's even fresher. I can't say enough about that company's products.



When I first started using oils about six months ago, I wrote an email to Manitoba Harvest and asked if their oil was unrefined (which means that it has not gone through, bleaching, removing colour components, deodorizing etc which of course removes most of the beneficial nutrients and qualities of oils). They wrote back eventually and evaded my question.

Since then I have been using Omega Nutrition Organic Hemp Oil which states on their label that it is unrefined (the Manitoba Harvest does not - they stick with cold pressed)

Hope this helps


alex

[exurb]

thanks everyone for answering some of my questions, and questions I didn't even ask. :)

If anyone looks into which countries are regulating the term "cold pressed", what that means in terms of degrees, etc., please keep us posted. (I have fantasies of say just going to costco and buying a gallon for like ten bucks).

[VeryBerry]

Thanks for the great feedback, everyone.

I have one more question. How do you store the olive oil, do you keep it in the fridge?

[Pierre]

If you keep it in the fridge, it will freeze. It takes several days to freeze hard. If you take it out, it melts. My room temp is around 16 these days so I leave it out. In the summer I often put it in the fridge.

[RawMorgan]

My bad.......I'm getting my info mixed up. The label from Silver Leaf states that their oil isn't heated above 28*-30*Celcius. I believe this makes it raw..but maybe contact them to be sure. ;) Morgan

[exurb]

Thanks Morgan, that would be raw according to my definition! :D too exciting, I will have to pick some up next time I am in that neck of the woods, or get my friend from Oakville to grab a bottle for me.

P.S. Who's playing at La Luna tonight? LOL.