Iranian olive oil notches up global quality gold award
The Iranian Agriculture Ministry announced on Monday that the country’s olive oil has won a gold medal for quality at the Global Olive Oil Stars 2025 in England.
Karim Zolfaghari, head of the ministry’s farming mechanization department, said one of the processing industry units with an operating license from the Tehran Province Agricultural Jihad Organization succeeded in notching up a gold medal in the quality section of the latest global olive oil event, known as Global Olive Oil Stars 2025, in London.
The international competition was held from June 27 to 28 with the participation of 427 product samples from 21 countries.
“In this section of the event, the chemical and sensory quality of extra virgin olive oil, laboratory tests to check the level of phenolic compounds and their compliance with EU regulations, evaluation of added flavors for flavored olive oil, and packaging design were the criteria for selecting the best,” Zolfaghari said.
The official stated that the number of active units with operating licenses from the Agriculture Ministry in the olive oil extraction industry is 63 units with a nominal production capacity of 53,600 tons of various oils, including virgin and extra virgin.
“Processing industries can play a key role in preventing waste, increasing product shelf life, creating added value, and generating foreign exchange from exports for the country,” Zolfaghari said.
“Regarding olives, a portion of the product produced in the country is also converted into various types of canned olives by processing industry units.”
Olive oil is divided into several different types, each with its own specific characteristics and properties. The classification is usually based on color, taste, and acidity.
Extra virgin olive oil is the highest quality olive oil, containing all the properties and benefits of olives. To produce this oil, perfectly healthy olives are washed and their oil extracted by pressing as quickly as possible after harvesting. This oil has a rich taste and essential vitamins, and due to the preservation of polyphenols and antioxidants, it offers anti-inflammatory and health benefits.
Virgin olive oil is a type of olive oil produced from healthy, high-quality olives using the cold-pressing method. This oil has an acidity between 0.8% and 2% and has a mild taste and olive aroma. Virgin olive oil contains vitamins and antioxidants that are beneficial for health and can help reduce bad cholesterol. This oil is commonly used in sauces and cooking at medium temperatures and is a healthy and nutritious option for the diet.