Colavita Premium Selection Extra Virgin Olive Oil - Twin Pack, 34 Fl Oz Each

QUALITYIn my opinion, having used a dozen or so brands of olive oil, Colavita is simply the best reasonably-priced olive oil which is widely available. I've been using Colavita for several years now, and have never been disappointed. Colavita is excellent quality, dependable, and reasonably priced---the perfect combination for a daily general purpose olive oil.FLAVORAlthough not an "olive oil gourmand", I'd describe Colavita as "rich, smooth, and neutral". Gourmands probably have other silly terms for the flavor, such as "fruity" (but a "civilian" would never call it fruity). It is NOT harsh or bitter like most common olive oil, NOT spicy like Whole Foods 360, and NOT "herby-fishy". Colavita is an evoo ("extra virgin olive oil"---to us non-olive oil snobs), which means "first pressing". Most olive-oil nuts consider the words "extra virgin" to be sacred. Practically speaking though, the mere label "extra virgin" is not a guarantee of quality---most grocery store brands (evoo or not) are harsh and bitter, but some are good cooking oils.PREMIUM OILSBotique premium oils are are as variable year to year as wines, comparably expensive, and have to be bought the way you buy fine wine (that is, ideally at tastings, where you confirm the quality and flavor before purchase). Some are genuinely (as in NOT-gourmet-speak) buttery and nutty---great for dipping. Some taste like the fragrance of flowers---great for salads. Never cook premium olive oil---use it for dipping or drizzling, or on delicate salads. Colavita is a good general purpose oil, better than most grocery store olive oil, but is not a premium oil.COOKING OILNon-extra virgin olive oils (second or later pressings) are usually darker and stronger flavored---which adds complexity to soups, sauces, stews, bean dishes etc. If you are using a bitter or strong-tasting olive oil, cook it WITH the dish. I add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of olive oil to every sauce, soup, stew, chili, casserole, or bean dish, etc. However, olive oil can "go bad"---so unless you use alot, it doesn't sense to use a different cooking oil than you use on salads, for dipping etc. Colavita is a very good general purpose oil, and therefore a good cooking oil, but probably not the best choice for a restaurant which uses large quantities of olive oil.DIPPING OILTraditionally (and in the best restaurants), Italian bread, oil and balsamic vinegar is served as an appetizer. The diner usually mixes his own oil and vinegar at the table. If all three are top quality, the combination can be delicious, and can even be a light meal. Add figs or slices of apple or pear and some olives, and you do have a meal. Albeit probably heresy, in fact you can substitute fine wine vinegar or fresh lemon juice. If I don't have olives, I usually add soy sauce or Braggs for saltiness to the mixture. Bragg Liquid Aminos, Natural Soy Sauce Alternative, 32-Ounce Bottle , (Pack of 3). Colavita is a very good "everyday" dipping oil.SALAD OILThe requirements for an "everyday" salad oil are a little less stringent than that for a dipping oil, because the heavy flavor of the vinegar, and often Parmesan, bacon bits, etc. usually dominate. However, I rarely prepare use oil and vinegar the traditional way. For everyday salads (or as a dip for raw vegies) I prefer olive-oil based mayo with a little freshly ground pepper, and some citrus zest. For special salads, I use a fruity premium olive oil (and just a hint of lemon and/or orange juice and zest). Colavita is a very good "everyday" salad oil.DRIZZING OILA drizzling oil is an oil you pour over a dish immediately before serving, or which you serve in a carafe on the table. If you REALLY like the flavor of "ordinary good" olive oil (I don't)---then you will find Colavita to be a good drizzling oil. My hispanic wife frequently drizzles Colavita on the dishes I've cooked (with Colavita), because she likes the olive-oil flavor. By the way, the same principle applies to the use of butter, pepper, garlic, cheese, even soy sauce---if you want the flavor to dominate, add it just before serving; if you want the flavor to be subtle, cook the seasoning with the dish. For most dishes I prefer a rich blend of subtle flavors.HEALTHY COOKINGI go to a great deal of effort to minimize animal fat in my diet, by very strict trimming, thorough cooking, and by chilling broth to remove the solidified fat. However, the body needs fat and craves fat. The ideal solution is to replace animal fat with vegetable oils which are high in omega-3s. Olive oil is ideal for the purpose.My Southern grandmother could not cook any vegetables without a thick slice of fatback (fatty bacon)---and indeed her vegetables were very tasty. Speaking of which, what is the point of healthy vegetables if no-one will eat them? The solution is to add several tablespoon fulls of olive oil, and a teaspoon of chipped ham Hormel Premium Real Crumbled Bacon to the vegies. For the best flavor, cook the vegies with the olive oil (do NOT add oil to the cooked vegetables---unless you really like the flavor of the oil). Season as necessary with pepper and fresh lemon juice. Truly delicious vegetables are possible---I eat them daily.ECONOMYThe 34 ounce tins is about half the price of the bottle per oz at this time, but is expensive compared to the last time I purchased it. The tins are small enough to use directly. But I prefer bottles, because controlling the flow of the oil is easier (since you can see the oil approaching the spout), and it is easier to gauge the amount of oil I'm using by eye (how far the level drops in the glass bottle). So, I refill bottles from the tins. I've been told that olive oil stays fresher in tins (measured in months and years) That becomes relevant when you don't know how many months (or even years) a bottle may have sat on a grocery shelf.GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONAfter major grocery shopping expeditions, sit down at your computer with your receipt, and check if you can buy any of the non-perishables through Amazon. When you find items (even if more expensive than you just paid), put the item on your Amazon wish list, and add a note to the wish list of the price you just paid. Check your wish list frequently, and when you see an item you need at a bargain price, buy it.> Click on “Stoney” just below the product title to see my other reviews, or leave a comment to ask a question.

Tastes great with any recipe that calls for it and even some that don’t.

I enjoyed this oil especially at the price it was when I bought it, $28. I use it for everything from adding to sauce to enjoying on caprese. But the price increase is obscene. From $28 to $48. I would rather seek a different vendor rather than pay the increased amount of $20.

I'll start off with the disclaimer that neither my husband nor I are any kind of trained chef, but we do have a decent idea of what tastes good (at least to us). This olive oil is much better than anything we've used before, which is generally bought at the grocery store. Since buying it, we have made some very yummy dressings and it's great over pasta with fresh tomatoes, basil and cheese. It has a much lighter taste to it than what I'm used to as well as having a lovely nutty smell when it is heated. Lastly, we mostly decided on this product based on the price for the two tins and I think we ended up with a great item for not too much money!

We are brand loyal and believe it keeps the Italian in what needs to stay Italian.

I wouldn't call Colavita the BEST olive oil I've ever had, but for the price, it is the best. I've tried using other more expensive olive oils and they are a better product, but the cost is prohibitive to use it the way I use oil. I use this olive oil for almost all my oil needs, except frying which I rarely do. I do keep a bottle of the expensive stuff around for bread dipping and oil/vinegar base salad dressings. Works well in pan frying with a little butter. I've been using it for years and buying it in these little containers is the most economic way I've found to purchase it.

Very strong flavor i love it but it did take getting used to

This has been my standard for many years. It has an excellent cost/quality ratio, a very good oil that doesn't break the bank.Amazon actually charges less than my local store, and with free Prime shipping, what a deal. It's the same size as the more typical glass 34 ounce bottle, but I find this form-factor to be nicer.