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The World’s Best Olive Oils 2023
The NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition is the world’s largest and most prestigious olive oil contest. Its annual listing of award winners is considered the authoritative guide to the year’s best extra virgin olive oils.
All Winners 2023
2023 Winners
The Official Guide to the World’s Best Olive Oils is the authoritative index of the world’s best olive oils and the dedicated producers who craft them.
Cultivar in the Spotlight
Coratina
Coratina olives are widely grown in the southern region of Puglia in Italy. This variety is known for producing an oil that is robust and flavorful, with a fruity aroma and a slightly bitter taste. The olives are typically harvested when green and unripe to produce a high-quality extra-virgin olive oil rich in polyphenols, which have been shown to have numerous health benefits, including reducing inflammation and lowering the risk of heart disease.
What makes a
great olive oil?
Crafting an award-winning olive oil takes determination, skill and obsessive attention to details. Every stage of the process, from harvest to bottle, must be perfectly managed to produce one of the world’s best olive oils.
Fruitness
Every good olive oil needs to have the aroma of fresh fruit. Olives are fruits, after all. The oil should smell fresh and fruity.
Bitterness
Olives are mighty bitter straight off the tree. So any fresh, high-quality olive oil must be bitter, which we perceive on the tongue.
Pungency
Pungency is that cough-inducing sting on the throat that’s caused by the healthy phenolic compounds in fresh, high-quality olive oil.
Harmony
A pleasing balance in an oil sample’s quality characteristics distinguishes high-quality olive oils from the others.
Complexity
Exceptional olive oils send us on an olfactory and gustatory journey through a complex bouquet of pleasing sensations.
Persistence
The qualities should linger for a while, giving the taster time to reflect on the fruity notes and complex subtleties.
People Behind the Winning Brands
Alexis Karabelas
AMG Karabelas, based in Ancient Olympia in western Peloponnese, was the first among participants from Greece to earn a Gold Award at NYIOOC 2023 for its Laurel and Flame Fresh extra virgin olive oil made from early harvested olives of the indigenous Tsabidoelia variety.
“We feel amazing to win a gold award for our local Tsabidoelia in the world’s most prestigious competition for the second year in a row,” Alexis Karabelas told Olive Oil Times. “We sense that the Tsabidoelia variety is starting to take the place it deserves among Greek olive varieties and this gives us the satisfaction and the energy to continue our efforts and hard work.”
Award-Winning Regions
İzmir
İzmir, located on the Aegean coast of Turkey, is known for producing some of the highest-quality olive oil in the world. Olive trees have been cultivated in this region for thousands of years, and the mild Mediterranean climate and fertile soil create ideal conditions for growing olives. İzmir olive oil is a staple ingredient in traditional Turkish dishes like mezze, salads, and grilled meats.
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