Walk down any supermarket aisle and you’ll see shelves filled with “infused” olive oils — garlic, chilli, lemon, rosemary. They’re everywhere. But not all flavoured oils are created equal.
At Adelaide Hills Harvest, we do things a little differently. And it all comes down to how flavour is introduced to the oil.
The Supermarket Method: Heat, Yield & Added Flavour
Most flavoured oils you’ll find on supermarket shelves are made by first producing olive oil on its own — often using heat to maximise yield. Once the oil is extracted, flavours are added later in the process, usually as:
- Artificial flavourings
- Extracts
- Concentrates
Heating olive oil increases output and lowers costs, but it comes at a price. Heat can degrade many of the natural compounds that make extra virgin olive oil so special — including antioxidants, polyphenols, and flavour complexity.
The result? A product that may be inexpensive and consistent, but often lacks depth, freshness, and true olive character.
Our Method: Whole-Fruit Pressing, From the Start
Our flavoured oils are not infused after pressing.
Instead, we use a traditional whole-fruit pressing method, where fresh, local fruits — such as lemons, chillies, garlic, or herbs — are added at the very beginning of the process, crushed together with the olives themselves.
This means:
- Olives and fruit are pressed at the same time
- No artificial flavours or extracts
- No post-production flavouring
- No heat used to boost yield
It’s a slower, more delicate process — but one that honours the integrity of both the olive and the fruit.
Why This Matters (And Why It Costs More)
Pressing whole fruits with olives produces:
- Lower yields (you get less oil overall)
- Higher production costs
- More complex, natural flavour
- Better retention of beneficial compounds
But what you lose in quantity, you gain in quality.
The flavours are brighter, fresher, and integrated — not sitting on top of the oil, but woven through it. The olive oil remains true extra virgin, with its natural health benefits intact.
Taste the Difference
Our flavoured oils aren’t designed to overpower your food. They’re designed to elevate it.
A drizzle of Lemon Press over seafood.
Chilli Press stirred through roasted vegetables.
Garlic Press finishing warm sourdough or pasta.
Real ingredients. Real flavour. Pressed with care.
Because when you start with quality and respect the process, the difference is unmistakable.
👉 Explore our flavoured olive oils and taste the difference for yourself.
