Often, olive oil is associated with countries like Italy, Spain, and Greece—but did you know that Turkey ranks number four in the world for olive oil production? Even higher than Morocco, which has recently been making a name for itself with olive oil.
Olives are a fundamental ingredient in Turkish cuisine. They are always welcomed, whether they serve as the star of the breakfast table or the base of olive oil. Turkiye has grown to become one of the top producers of olives and olive oils in the world.
Through this article, we will outline the top manufacturers of olive oil in Turkey and assist you in learning about the biggest, most affordable olive oil production facilities there.
What’s The Best Turkish Extra Virgin Olive Oil?
A good bottle of Turkish olive oil in the kitchen is important to many of us. To help you choose the best olive oil from Turkey among all the possibilities, we have listed the top Turkish olive oil brands and the types of goods you should know about.
1. Zeytin Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oils
Zeytin Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oils (check the price on Amazon now) is award-winning olive oil that is also produced with Memecik variety olives by a small family farm in Ayvalik, Turkey. It is made using only the best practices in planting, farming, and processing.
The oil is pure green when it is harvested and has a medium-strong character with the fragrance of newly cut grass, artichoke, and tomato, hence the tagline “rich and fruity.”
Although the oil pairs well with fish and roasted vegetables, the best-loved method to eat it is by dipping a slice of rustic, artisan bread into the fruity EVOO, which may serve as a complete meal on its own. EVOO has won multiple honors year after year for its excellent flavors, plus it has a low acidity of 0.2-0.3% and a polyphenol count of 400.
Properties:
- Flavor notes: Artichoke, green almonds, peppery
- It’s ideal as a gift for everyone with distinctive packaging and a gorgeous gift box
- High Count of Polyphenols – 400+ for endless benefits
- Zeytin’s olive oils won numerous awards globally
- Very low acidity of 0.2% to 0.3%
2. Oleamea Private Select Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Oleamea Private Select Olive Oil (check the price on Amazon) is a single-blend of Memecik olives that are cold-pressed within two hours of being hand-picked from the tree, allowing the maximum quantity of polyphenols and antioxidants to be removed.
It has a fruity flavor thanks to the terroir of the land high in the hills, with aromatic notes of freshly cut grass and hints of green banana to delicately counterbalance the pronounced peppery bitterness that is a characteristic of high-quality oils. A must for anyone looking to elevate their culinary experience.
You can enjoy this Organic Private Select with pizza, pasta, seafood, chicken, meat and lamb, sautéed vegetables, cheeses and mezze spreads, and salads. A must for drizzling, dipping, and finishing.
Properties:
- Won a Silver Award at the 2020 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition
- Chemical, Gluten, Wheat, Corn, Soy-free
- 100% Paleo and Primal
- Ketogenic Friendly, Bariatric Friendly & Celiac Friendly.
- 100 years of production experience
3. Marmarabirlik Naturel Sizma, Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Marmarabirlik Naturel Sizma, Extra Virgin Olive Oil (check the price on Amazon now) is an acronym for extra virgin olive oil, a kind of olive oil that imposes stringent requirements on the product in order for a business to use it on their product.
Premium oil is obtained by cold mechanical extraction without the use of chemicals or refining processes. It is considered to have a great flavor, considerable fruitiness, and no obvious sensory flaws, and contains no more than 0.8% free acidity.
This olive oil is beneficial for heart health, contains a lot of antioxidants, has potent anti-inflammatory properties, and is high in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats. Olive Oil Is Not Associated With Weight Gain and Obesity.
Properties:
- Hand-picked and cold-pressed
- Less than 0.8% acidity
- Curated and harvested from Urla, Turkey
- Glass bottle with non-drip Guala spout
- 100% natural and free of any and all, additives and preservatives
4. Hic RESERVE Limited Edition USDA Organic Turkish Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Hic RESERVE Limited Edition USDA Organic Turkish Extra Virgin Olive Oil (check the price on Amazon now) is a limited edition, cold-pressed, organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil made from the first olives to be picked each season and has an acidity level of less than 0.5%.
This oil has a balanced spicy and bitter aftertaste and a grassy scent with artichoke and fresh almond overtones. It tastes great on everything, including soups, salads, seafood, meats, and even plain bread dipped in it. Additionally, it’s the ideal present for foodies!
The Hiç Olive Forest, the biggest organic forest on the Aegean Coast, is the only place where this EVOO is grown in the wild. The lovely black-painted bottle shields the olive oil from direct sunshine and intense heat. Additionally, the bottle has a handy Guala non-drop spout.
Properties:
- Early harvest, hand-picked and cold pressed
- Organically and wild grown with trees, herbs, animals & bees
- Harvested exclusively from one source – the Hiç Olive Forest in Urla, Turkey
- Less than 0.5% acidity
- Recommended for Vegan, Keto, Whole30, Gluten-Free, and Kosher diets.
5. NovaVera Turkish Early Harvest Extra Virgin Olive Oil
NovaVera Turkish Early Harvest Extra Virgin Olive Oil (check the price on Amazon now) was in the top 15 olive oils in the 2020 EVOO World Quality Ranking, Turkey’s best olive oil in that competition.
These olives are carefully crafted from handpicked olives, which are produced on Salihli land. The olives were then cold extracted and filtered, resulting in this high-quality product.
To keep the paste below 22°C, heat measurements are taken at 6 times during the entire process of switching from olive to olive oil. It is ensured that the largest amount of phenolic compounds, which are naturally present in the olive fruit, are transferred to the olive oil by using the principles of early harvest and cold pressing.
Properties:
- The free fatty acidity value is at most 0.5%
- Amount of Polyphenol 580+
- Glass Bottle Volume 500 ml
- Won a Silver Award at the 2021 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition
- Can store this olive oil in a cool place away from light and damp at 18°C or in the refrigerator.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Is Turkey famous for olive oils?
As a mediterranean sea country, Turkey is famous for its olive trees and best quality olive oils. Turkey ranks number four in the world for olive oil production.
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Is Turkish olive oil good?
Much of Turkish olive oil is smoother and has a mild buttery flavor than olive oils from Italy, Greece, and other Mediterranean countries. For this reason, you can use Turkish olive oil for most of your cooking and baking needs since the flavor typically isn’t too intense.
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Does Turkey export olive oil to the USA?
Being a net exporter of olive oil, Turkey supplies a variety of olive oil to a wide range of countries, including the major producer country, the USA. Turkey’s production of olive oil increased this year as Turkey’s exports of olive oil or bulk purchases of olive oil to the United States of America achieved an estimated 16 thousand and 500 tons in the first five months of the season, a rise of 206 percent compared to the previous period.
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What are popular olive varieties cultivated in Turkey?
Domat Olives, Memecik olives, Gemlik Olives, Memeli Olives, Edremit Olives, and Ayvalik Olives are the most popular varieties cultivated in Turkey.
Final Words
With the aforementioned, we have completed presenting our article and have provided you with a list of the top 5 Turkish olive oil producers, all of the finest caliber. Following completion, we hope that we have assisted you and provided you with all the information you need to choose the best Turkish extra virgin olive oil for your kitchen.
If you’re interested in olive oils from other countries, make sure to check: