Carapelli Olive Oil Tasting

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Carapelli for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Yes, Really...

This blog is not about food. I love food but I'm not much of a cook.

I do make spaghetti quite a bit.  Like at least once a week.

Mostly I take a can of Hunt's tomatoes with roasted garlic and add a little olive oil and spices.

Sometimes I just put olive oil and Italian spices on my spaghetti noodles. 

So the other day when the good people of Carapelli contacted me and asked if I'd do an olive oil tasting, I thought - why not?

Apparently, olive oil tasting is very similar to wine tasting.

Carapelli sent me the instructions on how to do the tasting. First I was to poor the oil into a wine glass and warm it with my hands. You then taste using the four S's.

The four S's are:

Swirl, Sniff, Slurp and Swallow

1.  Swirl -  by swirling the olive oil in your glass you release the oil's esters, which are the molecules that contain the aroma.

2.  Sniff - Now inhale deeply. The aroma is the key to the fruitiness of the oil. Is it intense or is it more subtle?

3.  Slurp - Sip the oil while "sipping" in a bit of air. This slurping action emulsifies the oil and helps spread it throughout your mouth. Take note of the various tastes and sensations. Is it fruity, peppery , smooth?

4.  Swallow - Once you swallow the oil, it should leave your mouth with no aftertaste. Again, take note of any peppery or stinging sensation in your throat. 

Armed with these instructions I set about to give it a try.

I taste tested two of their oils.

Their premium extra virgin olive oil and their extra light olive oil.

The extra light is intended for cooking use. It is very light in taste...just a hint of olive.

I can imagine it would work very nicely in many recipes.

But what I was most interested in trying was their EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)

I must admit I'm not very informed on olive oils..I buy according to who has the most authentic looking label and nicest bottle. Carapelli is very impressive on both counts. 

That is how I shop. If you have a pretty label...I'll buy your product.

But through the taste testing I did learn to appreciate the quality and taste of Carapelli's product.

First it has a lovely heady olive aroma and fine smooth texture. 

The aroma is heavily olive in fragrance. The taste is very nice, very olive filled. 

I'd say it is hearty, bold and strong in olive flavor. I like my olive oil to taste strongly of olives and this one did.

It was much  better than the brand of olive oil I had in my cupboard and I will most likely buy Carapelli from now on.

And they are not paying me to say that.

Carapelli is Italy's No. 1 Extra Virgin Olive Oil and I can see why.

Carapelli's Master Tasters craft the exclusive blends of the best oils from the finest Mediterranean olive groves.

It's premium 100% Italian - made solely from the first cold pressing of the finest 100% Italian olives with an intense, robust flavor and aroma.

Actually, the tasting got me in the mood for a little snack that's served at many Italian restaurants.

I made a little dipping sauce for bread I had on hand. I poured a little in a bowl then added balsamic vinegar and cracked pepper.

It was a delicious little snack after my official olive oil tasting.

How about a  coupon for $1.00 off your next purchase of Carapelli olive oil? Here you go.

$1.00 OFF coupon at www.CarapelliUSA.com

Now...does anyone want me to do a soy sauce taste test? 

I'd gladly do that too. Or actually wine taste testing for the blog would be fun...wouldn't it?

Well, fun for me.