Product knowledge
Does "Product of X" mean the oil was grown and pressed there?
Not necessarily. "Product of X" on an olive oil label most often refers to where the oil was bottled or last substantially processed, not where the olives were grown and pressed — a bottle can legitimately say 'Product of Italy,' for instance, while containing oil pressed from olives grown in Spain, Greece, Tunisia or elsewhere and simply blended or bottled in Italy. If you specifically need oil grown and pressed in one place, that's a different, stronger claim, and it's worth asking a supplier directly rather than assuming the country name on the front settles it.
This isn't unique to olive oil — country-of-origin labelling rules generally hinge on where a meaningful transformation last happened, which for oil is often bottling, not growing.
The difference between 'grown,' 'pressed' and 'bottled'
Three separate steps can happen in three separate countries: olives are grown and harvested somewhere, pressed into oil somewhere (ideally close to harvest, since fresher pressing means better oil), and bottled or packed somewhere else again. A label that only states one country doesn't tell you which of those three steps it's describing unless it says so explicitly.
- 'Grown in X' / single-estate — the strongest, most specific claim; olives were cultivated and typically pressed in that named place.
- 'Product of X' / 'Packed in X' — often just the bottling or blending location; olives may originate elsewhere.
- Blended oils — combine oil from multiple countries; usually labelled as a blend rather than a single origin.
What to ask a supplier if origin matters to your menu
If a specific origin matters, for a menu claim, a supplier story, or just buyer preference, ask directly where the olives were grown, where they were pressed, and how recently, rather than relying on the front-label country name alone (Nudo). A supplier confident in their supply chain will usually answer plainly; vague or evasive answers to a direct origin question are themselves useful information.
Our own Premium Virgin Olive Oil comes through Lio Food out of Latakia, Syria — for sourcing detail beyond what's on the product page, that's a fair thing to ask in your inquiry.
Why this matters more for bulk buyers than home cooks
A home cook buying one bottle a month has less riding on origin accuracy than a restaurant building a menu claim or a grocer stocking a specialty shelf around provenance — misrepresenting an oil's origin to your own customers, even unintentionally by trusting a vague label, is a reputational risk worth avoiding. Building a direct relationship with a supplier who can answer origin questions plainly is generally worth more than any single label claim.
See our full guide to judging a good extra virgin olive oil for the other checks — harvest date, aroma and taste — that matter alongside origin.
A quick origin checklist before committing to a bulk order
None of these questions are unusual or difficult for a legitimate supplier to answer, and a straightforward written answer is worth more than any single word on a front label.
- Ask where the olives were grown, not just where the oil was bottled.
- Ask for a harvest date, not just a best-before date.
- Ask whether it's a single-origin oil or a blend, and if blended, from how many countries.
- Get the answer in writing if origin is going on your own menu or packaging.
Related questions
Is 'Product of X' labelling misleading or illegal?
It's a common industry practice and generally legal where it reflects the last significant processing step, like bottling, but it can mislead buyers who assume it means the olives were grown there. Reading it carefully, or asking directly, avoids the confusion.
What's the strongest origin claim to look for?
A single-estate or 'grown in X' claim, ideally paired with a harvest date, is the strongest and most specific origin statement an olive oil label can make.
Can a blended oil still be good quality?
Yes — blending isn't itself a quality flaw, and many reputable oils are intentional blends for consistency. The issue is only when origin labelling implies something the blend doesn't actually deliver.
Should I ask for documentation, not just a verbal answer?
If origin is going on your own menu or packaging, yes — a written answer from your supplier gives you something to stand behind if a customer or inspector ever asks where the claim came from.