Absa crowns SA's top 10 olive oils for 2018

South African consumers are blessed with a choice of high quality locally produced olive oils. In recent years the growing number of awards won at major international olive oil competitions - even when pitted against countries like Italy and Spain - attest to the fact that the quality of SA olive oils can hold their own with the best of the world.

Image credit: Tokara

By means of the SA Olive Awards, annually held in August, industry association SA Olive gives recognition to the country’s top extra virgin olive oils of the particular year’s harvest. Entries are blind-judged by a panel of qualified tasters; where after medals are awarded in the categories for Delicate, Medium and Intense olive oils.

Industry recognition, consumer guidance

In a show of confidence in the olive industry, Absa, which previously sponsored the Absa Top 5 Olive Oil Awards, has extended this honour to ten exceptional olive oils. The very best gold award recipients of the SA Olive Awards are chosen as finalists for the Absa Top 10 awards.

“Several encouraging factors influenced our decision to double the number of winners,” says Willie Zastron, provincial head business banking, Absa.

”The continued growth seen in the quality of locally produced olive oils, the rise in the number of SA Olive Award entries, as well as the consumer’s increased demand for quality olive oils and loyalty to local suppliers, have convinced us to expand the platform for recognition to the top 10 olive oils. In this way we are not only pledging our support to individual producers, we are simultaneously creating opportunities for increased commercialisation in a fast-growing industry, access to markets and sustained job creation in rural communities.”

These are South Africa's best olive oils

27 Aug 2018

According to SA Olive chairperson, Nick Wilkinson, the SA Olive Awards, as well as the Absa Top 10, serves as a two-pronged approach to give recognition to the industry. “In the first instance we laud producers for their dedication and hard work in creating a superb product,” he says, “and in the second place, we help guide the consumer in their exploration of the proudly South African offering.

And the winners are...

Absa awarded the top 10 oils according to their taste profiles.

Delicate:

Rio Largo Gold EVOO
Tokara Mission EVOO
Olyfberg EVOO Blend A

Medium:

De Rustica Estate Collection Frantoio
Serrado EVOO
Oakhurst EVOO
Zoetigheyd Daniel’s Delish EVOO

Intense:

Mardouw XXV Intense EVOO
Porterville Olives Andante Intenso EVOO
Marbrin Farm Directors Reserve EVOO