I dropped $80 on a fancy 'smoked' olive oil that tastes like nothing

Saw this bottle at a specialty shop in Austin, the label promised deep, rich smoke flavor from real wood. Got it home, tried it on some bread, then on a salad... it's just plain oil with a tiny hint of something burnt. No smoke at all. Felt like a total sucker. Anyone know a brand that actually delivers on that smoky taste?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_jenny10d ago

Eighty bucks for a bottle of oil that tastes like nothing? I mean, that's a whole grocery run for me. I'd be so mad, like you bought a prop for a cooking show instead of real food. I've seen those fancy bottles in shops and always wondered if they were a scam. Maybe it's just me, but if it says 'smoked' I want to taste a campfire, not just feel sad about my bank account.

theasmith9d ago

But have you ever considered it's not about a strong taste? Some of those oils are made to add a really soft, deep smell and feel, not a punch in the face. It's like the difference between a cheap perfume that shouts and a good one that just hangs in the air. You use a drop in a fancy soup or finish a steak, and it gives this quiet, warm layer. Maybe the point is to make the whole dish better, not to be the only thing you notice.