What a harvest date tells you and why many bottles leave it off
A harvest date tells you when the olives were picked, which a best-by date does not. Here is what you can work out from it, and why so many labels skip it.
How tasters taste oil: small glasses, warmth, and the cough
Professional tasters follow a written method for olive oil, down to the glass and the temperature. Most of it works at a kitchen table, and it explains why a good oil can make you cough.
What extra virgin means on a label, in plain words
Extra virgin is a defined grade with a lab limit and a tasting test behind it. Here is what those tests require, and what the words on a bottle cannot promise.