Why would my olive oil smell like chipotle peppers?
I bought some Napa Valley Naturals organic extra virgin olive oil (not actually from Napa Valley -- it's from Spain). We're used to buying this brand, and in fact usually buy 9L at a time. But this box... well, the best I can describe is that it smells and tastes like it has been infused with chipotle peppers!
So, my question: What could cause this? How can I tell? Possibilities I've considered so far:
- It's an olive oil defect, but it's not a common one
- Wherever it was packed, there was contamination from chipotle-infused oil
- It's some other contaminant, and I shouldn't even be eating it
- This is legit olive oil, but a different variety or whatever
It's not bad, but it's not what I want -- I'm used to this brand being moderately good quality. I'll be calling them and inquiring about any recalls, whether there was something different about the lot, etc., but I also want information from an impartial source.
(Also interested in whether there are independent testing labs I could send a sample to without too much trouble/expense. I'm in the Boston area, for reference.)
Pictures about "Why would my olive oil smell like chipotle peppers?"
How can you tell if your olive oil is rancid?
You'll only know whether your olive oil has gone bad by giving it a small taste. If it's bitter or off-smelling, it has gone rancid. This won't make you sick, but it may not taste good in your next dish.Does olive oil have a weird smell?
Smell and Taste test can be helpful if you are uncertain about your bottle of Olive Oil: fresh olive oil has a pungent, fruity smell, while a rancid olive oil has little smell or may smell like crayons or stale peanuts. If you taste it, it may reminds you of a pumpkin and has a bitter taste with no fruitiness.How does extra virgin olive oil smell?
A good extra virgin olive oil will have a fruit or vegetable scent, with hints of olive and perhaps even a grassy aroma. It will smell fresh and clean. A rancid olive oil, however, retains a waxy smell, like a crayon, putty or even old walnuts. The next step to identifying rancid oil is tasting it.What is chipotle olive oil?
The smokey, subtly hot flavor of Chipotle chilies, infused into extra virgin olive oil for a spicy, zesty kick. Great for marinating steaks, ribs and brushing on grilled chicken or seafood. Drizzle over grilled vegetables or pizza for a spicy accent.How Can I Tell If My Olive Oil Is Bad?
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: RODNAE Productions, Loong Ken, Pixabay, Monstera