Summer is the ideal season to enjoy Mediterranean cuisine and its sunny flavors. Flavored olive oil — infused with lemon, basil, garlic, or bergamot — is one of the simplest and most effective summer seasonings to transform an ordinary dish into a bright plate. But you need to know how to choose and use it wisely.
What is a flavored olive oil?
A flavored olive oil is an extra virgin olive oil into which fresh herbs, spices, or citrus fruits have been incorporated to give it a particular aromatic profile. There are two main production methods: cold infusion, where the aromatics macerate in the oil, and co-crushing, where the olives and aromatic ingredients are pressed together at harvest time. This second, more artisanal method, yields more intense and authentic oils.
Infusion or co-crushing: what's the difference?
Infusion involves macerating herbs, zest, or spices in an already extracted oil. Co-crushing, on the other hand, involves pressing the olives directly with fresh aromatics — basil, lemon, garlic, chili — during the milling process. This technique better preserves natural aromas and produces a more distinct flavored olive oil, without additives or artificial flavors.
How to read a label?
To choose a quality flavored olive oil, make sure the base is extra virgin olive oil (and not ordinary olive oil or vegetable oil). Also, check that the aromatic ingredients are natural — citrus zests, fresh herbs, spices — and not synthetic flavors. The "organic" label guarantees the absence of pesticides on the ingredients used. Organic green fruity olive oil is a good example of a quality base, made from olives harvested at optimal ripeness in Calabria.
When and how to use a flavored olive oil?
The golden rule is simple: flavored olive oil is used cold or as a finishing touch to a dish, never for prolonged cooking. Heat alters the aromas and makes the infusion lose all its appeal. A few drops are enough — the goal is to complement the dish, not to overpower it.
As a seasoning and dressing
A drizzle of lemon olive oil on a rocket, tomato, or grilled vegetable salad brings immediate freshness, without the need to add lemon juice separately. Orange & lemon olive oil works very well on fruit salads, fish carpaccios, or sweet and savory dishes. For a summer vinaigrette, simply mix the flavored oil with a dash of PGI balsamic vinegar and a pinch of salt.
As a finishing touch on hot dishes
Add a drizzle of organic basil olive oil on hot pasta just before serving, on a pizza fresh out of the oven, or on burrata. Organic garlic & chili olive oil is ideal for enhancing grilled vegetables, skewers, or cold soups like gazpacho. In both cases, the oil is added off the heat, as a final touch.
On cold dishes and antipasti
Flavored olive oil is perfect for preparing a summer antipasti platter. Pair it with a black olive tapenade, a DOP basil pesto, marinated vegetables, and grilled bread. A drizzle of bergamot olive oil on a slice of country bread or fresh cheese creates a surprising and refined combination, typical of the Calabrian terroir.
Which flavored olive oil to choose depending on the dish?
The choice of flavored oil depends primarily on the dish and the desired effect. Here are some practical guidelines to help you.
Citrus oils: freshness and lightness
Citrus olive oils — lemon, orange, bergamot — are the most versatile in summer. They are suitable for fish, seafood, salads, desserts, and vegetarian dishes. Lemon olive oil is particularly well-suited for carpaccios, vegetable preparations, and cold pasta. Bergamot olive oil, awarded at the Épicures d'Argent 2023, brings a floral and slightly tart note, characteristic of this rare citrus fruit grown exclusively in Calabria.
Herb oils: vegetal intensity
Organic basil olive oil is the perfect ally for Italian dishes: pasta, pizzas, tomato salads, bruschettas. Its intense aromatic profile is reminiscent of pesto, but with the fluidity of an oil. It also pairs very well with eggs, steamed vegetables, or fresh cheeses.
Spicy oils: character and depth
Organic garlic & chili olive oil is made for lovers of bold flavors. It enhances grilled vegetables, marinated meats, garlic pasta, and pizzas. A few drops are enough to give character to a simple dish. It is the typical flavored oil of Southern Italy, where garlic and chili are essential ingredients of Calabrian cuisine.
To discover several aromatic profiles in a single order, the 200ml organic olive oil trio allows you to test different flavors and find the one that best suits your cooking. It also makes a beautiful gift box for Italian gastronomy lovers.
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