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Italian Olive Oil Buying Guide
Different Types Of Olive Oil
When it comes to buying a bottle of Italian olive oil, it’s important to be aware of the different types of oils available. Some oils are best drizzled over fresh tomatoes and enjoyed while raw, whereas others are solely reserved for cooking and are not as concentrated or fragrant. Knowing the difference is key, as highly concentrated extra virgin olive oil is best if you want a high-quality flavoursome oil for cooking and seasoning food.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil - Cold Pressed
As the best type of olive oil you can buy, extra virgin olive oil is unrefined and rich in antioxidants. Made using cold-pressed olives, this pure form is delicious for salad dressings, and to mix with yoghurt or hummus.
Extra virgin olive oil is also ideal for everyday cooking and can be a great base for making a casserole or pasta sauce, where you’ll likely be slow-cooking onions and garlic. If you’re hoping to indulge in a starter of balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and crusty bread, extra virgin olive oil is best.
When choosing a bottle of extra virgin olive oil, make sure to pay close attention to the label. If it has been produced in the European Union it will likely be cheaper as the olives are picked in an intensive way. The maturation stage in which the olives are harvested can also reflect the quality and price you’ll pay for a bottle. The greener the olives, the fresher and fragrant the oil will be.
You should also look for the organic logo before buying a bottle of olive oil. Organic certification is the seal of approval that the olives used to make the extra virgin olive oil, have not been in contact with pesticides.
Olive Oil For Cooking Only
There are also lower qualities of olive oil in the market that are best reserved for cooking. From virgin to refined olive oil, they are usually much lower in quality and price, and won’t provide the same health benefits as extra virgin olive oil.
Virgin Olive Oils
A step down from extra virgin olive oil, this type of oil has not been made from cold-pressed olives alone and instead typically features a blend of both cold-pressed olives and processed oils. It will usually be slightly lighter in colour and will often have a less fragrant aroma and flavour.
While it might be more affordable than buying a bottle of pure extra virgin olive oil, you’ll be compromising on the quality and flavour. So, it’s much better to invest in a high-quality bottle than a cheaper alternative.
Refined Olive Oil
Far cheaper than virgin and extra virgin olive oil, you should preferably use this type of Italian olive oil for cooking and not to add flavour to a dish or use it to create a salad dressing. It can help you to fry, sear and sauté food, but shouldn’t be used to dip bread.
Pure Olive Oil
Pure olive oil is a blend of extra virgin and refined olive oil to give customers a more versatile product. Use this form of olive oil to cook or for cosmetic purposes. You can use this natural oil to nourish and strengthen your hair and hydrate the skin. Although pure olive oil can often have a pretty strong smell, so avoid using it when garnishing and seasoning food.
Fancy investing in a high-quality bottle of Italian olive oil for your kitchen? Channel the sun-kissed Mediterranean coast and head to Casinetto to explore our online collection of Italian olive oils, delicious seasonal fruit, and vegetables.
Buon Appetito
Posted on July 6, 2021
Every Dessert Has a Season. Tiramisu Didn't Get the Memo
Every dessert has its season. This is not an opinion, it's just true, and somewhere inside you, you already know it. Chocolate lava cake is in December. The kind of thing you order when it's cold outside and you've stopped pretending to care about anything. Panna cotta is July, white, minimal, barely there, like it's also too hot to try. Crumble is October without question. Apple, pear, whatever's in the bowl, it belongs to grey skies and Sunday afternoons and the specific melancholy of a season ending. These desserts have their moment. They know it. They stay in their lane. Tiramisu does not stay in its lane Tiramisu shows up in January when you need something that feels like a decision. It shows up in April because the weather is nice and why not. It's on the menu in August at that outdoor restaurant and you order it even though it's 38 degrees because of course you do. It appears at Christmas, at birthdays, on a Wednesday with no occasion whatsoever. It does not check the calendar. It does not ask if this is a good time. And the thing is, it's never wrong. That's what separates it. Seasonal desserts are right once a year, maybe twice. Tiramisu is right in the way that a good espresso is right, in the way that sitting down after a long day is right. Not because of the weather. Because of what it does. It lifts. That's the whole job, and the job doesn't have an off-season. There's a reason Italian nonnas aren't making tiramisu only in autumn. There's a reason it's on every menu, in every month, in every city that has ever decided to take dessert seriously. It's not nostalgia. It's not a habit. The combination, espresso, mascarpone, cocoa, patience, works on a human being regardless of what the temperature is outside. Some things are just built differently The ones that prove it every time, in every season, start with the right ingredients. Mascarpone that tastes like it came from somewhere specific. Savoiardi that haven't forgotten what they're for. Cocoa that finishes clean. Not seasonal. Not occasional. Just right.
Casinetto Named Best Gourmet Food Supplier by CPI Media Group
We're proud to announce that Casinetto has been recognised as Best Gourmet Food Supplier by CPI Media Group, a distinction that reflects years of dedication to elevating the regional culinary landscape. What This Recognition Means This award acknowledges more than our product portfolio—it recognises our role as a trusted partner to the UAE and KSA's most discerning culinary professionals. From Michelin-starred kitchens to boutique delis, our clients rely on us to source ingredients that meet the exacting standards their reputations demand. The selection process evaluated suppliers across multiple criteria: product authenticity, supply chain reliability, portfolio diversity, and commitment to quality assurance. CPI Media Group's rigorous assessment underscores what sets Casinetto apart in an increasingly competitive market. The Casinetto Standard Excellence in gourmet food supply isn't just about logistics—it's about curation. Every product we represent, from French artisanal cheeses to Italian charcuterie, Spanish olive oils to premium pantry essentials, undergoes careful evaluation for provenance, quality, and market fit. Our team works directly with producers across Europe and beyond, ensuring traceability, authenticity, and consistent availability. This direct-source approach means our partners get more than products—they get the story, the expertise, and the assurance that comes with genuine partnerships. Looking Ahead As the regional F&B sector continues to evolve, so does our commitment to bringing the world's finest gourmet products to the Gulf. This recognition from CPI Media Group validates our approach and motivates us to raise the bar even higher. To our restaurant partners, retail clients, and culinary professionals who trust us with their most important ingredient decisions: thank you. Your standards drive our excellence. The best tables in the region deserve the best ingredients. That's the promise we renew with this recognition.
Italian Cuisine at the Heart of UNESCO’s Cultural Heritage
UNESCO has given special cultural heritage status to Italian cooking, viewing it as so much more than simply a set of recipes. This award honours Italian cuisine as a living tradition, as something to be practised, shared and handed down from one generation to the next. National favourites like pizza were already on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, but this respect extends beyond that. It honors italian traditional cooking in its entirety, and the way it is taught, preserved and practised all over Italy, both at home, where the teachings have been passed down from generation to generation in families, and through other venues such as home kitchens, food schools for young children and adults as well. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has championed the recognition of Italian cuisine since her election, captured its essence perfectly when she said that Italian cuisine is not just food or a set of recipes, but a culture, tradition, labour, and collective wealth. What Does This Mean? For millions of food lovers worldwide, this recognition is a reminder that the cuisine of Italy is worth slowing down to savour. It celebrates cooking that honours time, technique and ingredients selected with care. From crunchy Sicilian cannoli to Calabrian ’nduja, Italian food continues to excel by being characterful, deep and rooted in place. The announcement was made during a UNESCO assembly meeting in Delhi, where the cultural agency described Italian cuisine as a powerful way of connecting with family and community, whether at home, in schools, or through festivals, ceremonies, and social gatherings. Luigi Scordamaglia, CEO of Filiera Italia, has referred to the distinction as a joint success for the entire Made in Italy supply chain, underlining the team effort behind Italian food, from producers and handicrafts people to those who renew this tradition every day. He additionally stressed the Mediterranean diet, adding that when we refer to it, we are really talking about Italian cuisine itself, which is based on balance in unity, variety and respect for produce. At Casinetto, this recognition comes all too naturally. It embodies the same virtues we admire in any product we decide to carry: authenticity, tradition and food that tells a story worth preserving. We collaborate with producers who cherish tradition, value quality ingredients and believe in the integrity of their craft rather than cutting corners. The things we have on our shelves are not the result of trend-chasing, but rather an appreciation for the stories and know-how behind them, values that, by celebrating certain practices around the world, UNESCO has decided to endorse.