Olive Oil Review: Two Palestinian olive oils

When I first started seriously tasting extra virgin olive oil last year, I wondered if my mouth would get tired of the monotony. Afterall, I thought, how different can olive oils really be, in terms of aroma and taste?

Two oils I tasted this week helped remind that olive oils from around the world can, indeed, be very different. 'Tis a wonderful olive oil world we live in!

"Taste of the Holy Land" and "Nabali Tree Olive Oil" are marketed as "fair-trade" Palestinian olive oils, which generally means the farmers are getting a better market price for their product. In the U.S., one place to find these two oils is at Holy Creations, which sent us the oils to review. Both were good, but one was definitely better than the other. Read on:

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Let's start with my favorite of the two: the Nabali Tree Olive oil. The one I sampled was bottled in 2006, and sold for $18.99 a bottle (Shipping and handling not included). Following my rating system guidelines, I first graded for Aroma, then Taste, and finally, for overall Harmony.

For Aroma, I detected wonderful, savory nuances of nutmeg and roasted nuts, a medley of dried herbs -- and an undertone of hay, which is a good smell. It was a unique, pleasing aroma that smelled of freshness. Score: 4 out of 5.

For Taste, I found it had a fruity (just like the bottle promises) flavor, though with a mild approach and a very slight after-burn of pepper as I swallowed. It had a round, medium mouthfeel -- not too thick and viscous, but also not too light and greasy. Score: 6 out of 8.

For overall Harmony, I concluded: here's an oil that smells good, and tastes good, too. No off-tones. No false promises. Some exotic nuances. It would hold up well in bread-dipping, as a simple appetizer. I would even try it on certain oven-baked dishes, such as roast squash, because of its savory attributes. Score: 9 out of 12.

With a total score of 19, the Nabali Tree olive oil falls on the high end of "ILoveOliveOilBlog's" Premium category. (What does "Premium" mean? Read this.)

The second oil -- Taste of the Holy Land -- was good, though not as arresting as the Nabali. At $15 a bottle (at Holy Creations), it seems to be the right price for its quality.

For Aroma, I noted herbal essences, some faint pepper and, a little deeper, some sweet fig smell. Pleasing? Yes. A hint of the taste to come (with the pepper)? Yes. Score: 3 out of 5.

For Taste, I found that it had a thick feel that began with a simple, straightforward buttery taste, followed moments later by a long slow burn. Very mild flavor on the tongue -- aside from the slight burn that coated the throat later on. I equated the taste to steamed summer squash. Allowing the oil to mix with the air helped awaken it from its slumber in the bottle. Score: 5 out of 8.

For overall Harmony, I scored it an 8 out of 12. It was a good oil. I think it has the potential to be a much better oil in the future.

With a total score of 16, Taste of the Holy Land earns a Premium rating under "ILoveOliveOilBlog's" rating system.

-- Costas