Choosing the Best Turkish Olive Oil in the UK: What to Look For (and Why It Matters)

With more UK shoppers discovering the beauty of real extra virgin olive oil, Turkish varieties are finally beginning to shine.
Yet on most shelves, Italian and Spanish bottles still dominate - even though Türkiye has been cultivating olives for more than 4,000 years and produces some of the purest oils in the world.

So what makes a great Turkish olive oil, and how can you tell it apart from the rest?

Why Turkish Olive Oil Stands Out

Stretching from the Aegean to the Mediterranean, Türkiye’s olive-growing regions enjoy ideal soil, sea breeze, and sunlight.
The result is an oil that’s smooth, aromatic, and naturally rich in antioxidants — often described as the “balanced middle ground” between the fruity strength of Spanish oils and the lighter style of Italian ones.

Turkish extra virgin olive oils also tend to be single-origin and cold-extracted, preserving every drop of flavour and nutrition from the freshly harvested olives.
At LUVIA, our olives are pressed within hours of harvest - a small difference that transforms taste and freshness.

How to Identify a High-Quality Olive Oil

A bottle’s label can reveal more than you think. Here’s what to look for when choosing a premium olive oil:

• Extra Virgin – Indicates the highest grade of purity, with no refining or chemical processing.
• Cold-Extracted – Shows that temperature was kept below 27°C to protect natural flavour and antioxidants.
• Low Acidity – Premium oils have acidity under 0.8%; LUVIA’s is around 0.4%, showing exceptional freshness.
• Harvest Date – Olive oil is best enjoyed young; the closer to the harvest, the more vibrant the flavour.
• Dark Glass Bottle – Protects the oil from light, keeping its colour and aroma intact.

When you see these details together, you’re holding something truly special - not just cooking oil, but liquid craftsmanship.

Turkish Olive Oil vs Other Mediterranean Oils

Italian and Spanish oils are household staples, but many are blends sourced from multiple countries.
By contrast, Turkish olive oil is often single-origin, coming from small groves where families have tended the same trees for generations.
The olives are usually picked earlier in the season, resulting in a greener, fresher taste profile and higher polyphenol levels.

Türkiye’s producers also follow EU and IOC (International Olive Council) standards, ensuring quality that matches the Mediterranean’s best - but with a unique Anatolian character you won’t find elsewhere.

Where to Buy Turkish Olive Oil in the UK

Finding authentic Turkish olive oil in the UK can still be a challenge.
Supermarkets tend to focus on European brands, leaving a gap for those seeking genuine Aegean flavour and provenance.

That’s where LUVIA Classic Extra Virgin Olive Oil comes in - crafted from hand-picked Aegean olives, cold-extracted within hours of harvest, and bottled exclusively for UK kitchens.
Smooth yet vibrant, it’s ideal for drizzling, dipping, or simply savouring with warm bread.

👉 Shop LUVIA Classic Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Final Drizzle: Why Provenance and Freshness Matter

Great olive oil is more than an ingredient - it’s a story of land, climate, and care.
Choosing the right Turkish olive oil means supporting growers who value purity over volume and craftsmanship over convenience.

When you drizzle LUVIA over your dishes, you’re tasting the essence of Anatolia - fresh, balanced, and honest, just as nature intended.