Olive oil tips
Original or Counterfeit Olive Oil? 6 Home Tests
Contents
The Albanian market is full of bottles that bear the words "extra virgin" without deserving it. Some contain sunflower oil with coloring, others mix a little olive oil with refined oils. Here's how to spot a genuine olive oil before you open your wallet.
1. Read the origin, not the brand
The label should indicate the place of production and, ideally, the area. "Packed in..." does not mean "manufactured in...". Shkrela oil comes from our olive groves in the hills of Ardenica and Vlora, with a traceable chain from tree to bottle.
2. Look for the harvest date
The expiration date is not enough. Serious producers write the harvest season. Olive oil is a fruit juice and is at its best within 12-18 months of pressing.
3. The bottle should be dark glass
Transparent plastic lets in light and breaks down the oil within a few months. No one who invests in quality packages oil in transparent bottles. We explain the details in the article on oil storage.
4. Taste test
Take a spoon. A real extra-virgin oil gives you three signals: the smell of fresh grass or tomatoes, a bit of bitterness in the middle of the tongue, and a bite in the throat that makes you cough a little. If the taste is neutral like cooking oil, you have a refined product.
5. The price tells the truth
For one liter of extra virgin olive oil, about 5-6 kg of olives are needed, handpicked and processed within 24 hours. When the price drops below the cost of production, someone has compromised. Compare with our 2026 price analysis.
6. The refrigerator test does not work
There is advice circulating on the net that the original oil solidifies in the refrigerator. This does not hold. Even mixed oils solidify, even pure olive oils remain liquid depending on the composition. Do not use it as a criterion.
Frequently asked questions
How do I distinguish genuine olive oil in the supermarket?
Check the origin, harvest date, acidity and bottle type. Four elements together give a precise picture.
Does the green color mean the oil is better?
No. Color depends on variety and harvest time, not quality.
Does Shkrela have certificates of origin?
Yes. The production is certified organic and each batch is accompanied by laboratory analysis.
Get to know our history and process or order the products.
