When it comes to olive oil, there seems to be a multitude of options to choose from - extra virgin, virgin, high-phenolic, early harvest, refined, premium, pure - the list seems endless. But not all olive oils are created equal, and quality, taste, and health benefits vary greatly between all of the options available.
We frequently receive questions about “Early Harvest”. What does it mean? And what are the benefits?
Early Harvest refers to the time of year that the olives are harvested. In the Mediterranean region, where kyoord and The Governor are produced, the olives are typically harvested in the winter between December and March. Early Harvest olive oil is pressed from olives that are harvested earliest in the season, as early as October, when the olives are unripe and bright green in color.
While pressing unripe olives yields less olive oil, it conserves the natural antioxidants and polyphenols and thus produces olive oil with superior health benefits. Research studies have shown that polyphenols, especially oleocanthal, have preventative and therapeutic effects for cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other chronic illnesses. Not to mention the anti-aging and hydrating qualities for your skin.
Not only do Early Harvest olive oils contain more anti-inflammatory nutrients, but the olives also deliver a more robust aroma and flavor, making Early Harvest the ideal option for both culinary use, and as part of your wellness routine. Early harvest olive oils also have more of a green-golden hue compared to Late Harvest olive oils. This is due to the higher concentration of chlorophyll in the unripe olives at the time of pressing.
You may have heard the rumor that we shouldn’t be cooking with EVOO, but that’s actually a myth that has been debunked. Extra virgin olive oil, especially Early Harvest EVOO, has been found to be an extremely stable oil, producing less harmful chemicals under heat than any other cooking oil. The higher the quality, the more stable the olive oil is!
With so many benefits to Early Harvest olive oil, you might be wondering why it is not more widely available. Well, it all comes down to the cost. With less yield and a more manual harvesting process, producing one bottle of Early Harvest olive oil is more expensive, making it a less economical option for many mass-market companies.
At kyoord, we work with a local farm on the island of Corfu, Greece to bring you a variety of high-quality extra virgin olive oils that are carefully produced to maximize the health benefits. The Governor, Limited Edition is our Earliest Harvest option that boasts 10x more polyphenols than your average supermarket olive oil. Plus, we’ve got you covered with the most current harvest as soon as it’s available! From health benefits, to taste, to heat resistance - Early Harvest olive oil is the most premium option when it comes to olive oils.
