From that initial pour in the pan to the finishing drizzle on a plated dish, OilWell’s versatile Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a great go-to for bookending meals, finds Selena Young
What?
OilWell’s debut product hit the shelves this spring and is proving a hit for its all-rounder abilities as a cooking and dressing oil. The Extra Virgin Olive Oil has a delicate flavour and subtle fruitiness that lends itself well to all manner of cooking styles and dish zhuzhing.
However, it’s not just about the taste of the oil. The contemporary packaging gives serious cheffing vibes, being a squeezy, eco-conscious plastic bottle fitted with a slim nozzle. This unique-to-the-consumer packaging doesn’t just make users feel more like kitchen pros – it makes the oil easy to pour and stops those pesky drips down the side of the bottle.
Why?
Seed oils are out, haven’t you heard? Podcast episodes, hormonal-health books and social media channels are drenched in health influencers and nutritionists bashing seed oils, suggesting people swap them out for extra virgin olive oil instead and listing olive oil’s long-known benefits.
Topical conversation aside, there are – of course – long-term olive oil fans who don’t take notice of trends but adore the taste and texture of it: the Mediterranean-diet-leaning folk who give everything and anything a lick of good quality olive oil.
Whether you’re looking to swap out the rapeseed or simply an olive oil purist, this new brand crafting the goods from single-origin olives from Spain is one for the to-try list.
The low-down
The velvety pour is made using the Arbequina variety of olives which are known for being small and delicate, producing olive oils that hit a holy trinity of light, fruity and smooth. Arbequina is typically harvested earlier in the season and cold-pressed to lock in its vibrant character.
At Food Lifestyle HQ we’ve zig-zagged the olive oil on our salads and slices of sourdough, and sampled it solo to fully appreciate its grassy aroma and apple-forward flavour. The verdict is that it delivers a pleasingly fresh, clean flourish to dishes without overpowering them or adding bitterness. There isn’t much of a peppery punch so it might not be one for those who prefer their olive oil with a heady bite.
Dripping off a warm chunk of bread or even swirled on top of sea-salt-flecked ice cream are all ways in which we’ve thought about using OilWell.
Cost
Two bottles from £25.90.
Recommend OilWell to a friend?
This would be a great rec to anyone looking for a versatile, dream-to-pour oil, or trying to swerve seed oils in favour of an approachable olive oil.
