A new way to compare high polyphenol olive oils: EVOO Score

Up until now high polyphenol oils have been compared by total polyphenol count. Total polyphenols are important, but there are a lot of other factors that should influence who we buy our oil from.

Producers go to great lengths to make sure the oil we buy gets to us in great condition, so we created EVOO Score as an easy way to identify olive oil producers that are going the extra mile and delivering oil of the very best quality.

Here are some of the things that the new EVOO Score system takes into account:

1. Whether the producer publishes a third party lab analysis.
2. Low acidity values.
3. Filtration status.
4. The testing method used to get a polyphenol count.
5. How many varieties of olives go into the oil.
6. Whether the oil from the latest harvest year.
7. If the oil will be protected by its packaging.

All of these points are easily overlooked if just comparing by polyphenols, but each either contribute directly to the quality of the oil, protect the oil (and polyphenols), or increase trust and traceability. The filtration step for example is an important step that is sometimes skipped over by some producers due to cost and the fact that it reduces the volume of sellable oil. It is an important step however, and high quality producers will accept the extra costs involved to filter larger olive particulate out of the finished oil to protect it from damage, keeping the oil fresher for longer.

To help you compare oils quickly, we have created an EVOO Score table laying out the important information you need to make a decision about an oil, the EVOO Score, total polyphenol count, and a price point guideline. You can also view the third party lab report, continue your research on the producer’s website or click the link directly to buy.

If you want more information on how the score itself is calculated, you can view an individual oil’s EVOO Score breakdown, there is a link to a breakdown on each oil’s page.

Example EVOO Scores

The higher the EVOO Score the better, each oil will get a score from 0 to 950, although this may be updated in the future as we consult with producers and other experts in the olive oil industry. Likewise, if you have thoughts or opinions on this new scoring system, feel free to leave a comment below!