The sting at the back of your throat is not a flaw. It is the oil telling you it is fresh.
Take a sip of a good extra virgin olive oil on its own and something happens about fifteen seconds later. A sharp, peppery catch, felt only at the back of the throat, that can make you cough. It builds, peaks, and fades over a few minutes.
If you grew up on supermarket olive oil, it may come as a surprise. Most bottled oil has little or none of it. The catch is one of the clearest signs that an oil was made from early-harvest olives, milled quickly, and stored well.
Where it comes from
Researchers at the Monell Chemical Senses Center identified the source of the sensation in a paper published in Nature in 2005: a single phenolic compound, found in fresh extra virgin olive oil, that stimulates a receptor located almost exclusively in the throat. A 2009 study in Chemical Senses mapped the timing: the sting peaks around fifteen seconds after swallowing and lasts more than three minutes.
Dr. Piro has a shorter version: "That throat tingle is oleocanthal. It's the oil telling you it's alive."
Why it fades
The compounds behind the throat tingle are the same ones that degrade with time, heat, light and oxygen. An oil loses its pepper as it ages. That is why the sensation is a freshness test you can run yourself, and why a sealed single serving keeps it longer than an open bottle.
How to taste for it
Open a sachet, or pour a small amount into a glass. Warm it in your mouth for a moment, then swallow. Wait. Notice the bitterness first, on the tongue, then the catch at the back of the throat. One cough is a good sign. Two is a very good sign.
What PiroMD's oil measures
We publish the measured values for our oil, with their dates, on the Lab Results page. We do not compare them with other brands, and we do not translate them into promises. The numbers are there so you can see them.
About PiroMD
Crafted with Lawrence Piro, MD, PiroMD is a daily-use organic extra virgin olive oil designed to support cardiovascular health and healthy aging as part of a daily routine. Thirty-one single-serve sachets, delivered monthly.
References
Beauchamp GK, et al. Ibuprofen-like activity in extra-virgin olive oil. Nature 2005;437:45-46. Link
Cicerale S, et al. Sensory characterization of the irritant properties of oleocanthal. Chem Senses 2009;34(4):333-339. Link
