Olive Oil Shot 101

I LOVE an olive oil shot. It’s the best way to start the day, in my humble opinion. Taking a shot of high-phenolic olive oil on an empty stomach in the morning may help reduce inflammation, support cardiovascular health, and improve digestion by stimulating bile flow. Its antioxidant compounds, like oleocanthal, also support cellular protection and may enhance mental clarity and metabolic function throughout the day. But if you’re taking a shot of low quality olive oil, you could be doing more harm than good. This is the criteria I use to evaluate olive oils and also my top 4 olive oils for morning shots!

Evaluation Criteria for Premium Olive Oil

• Polyphenol Content

  • Antioxidants like oleocanthal and oleacein support inflammation reduction, cardiovascular health, and oxidative stress protection

  • Higher mg/kg = greater health benefit and longer shelf life

• Organic Certification

  • Ensures no synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or GMOs

  • Indicates sustainable and clean farming practices

• Harvest & Production Methods

  • Early harvest: Unripe olives = higher polyphenols

  • Cold-pressed within hours: Preserves antioxidants and flavor

  • Unfiltered/raw: Retains more nutrients

• Testing Transparency

  • Look for third-party lab results (COAs) for polyphenol levels and oxidation values

  • Public lab reports = higher consumer trust

• Packaging Quality

  • UV-protective or dark glass bottles prevent light-induced degradation

  • Nitrogen sealing (e.g. in Manni) can extend antioxidant stability

• Taste Profile

  • Bitter, grassy, or peppery finish usually signals higher polyphenol levels

  • Mild, buttery oils often indicate lower antioxidant content

• Price-to-Value Ratio

  • Consider cost per liter in relation to polyphenol count, farming standards, and packaging

  • Therapeutic oils may justify higher price per mL if used medicinally

Best Olive Oil Rankings

1. Alya Olive Oil Shots

• Polyphenol Content: ~1800–2000+ mg/kg

• Organic: ✅

• Harvest/Production: Early harvest, unfiltered

• Testing Transparency: Yes (published lab reports)

• Packaging: Individual glass shot vials (30/day supply)

• Taste: Clean, peppery, designed for health use

• Price: $79.99 for 30 shots (250 mL total) → ~$320/L

• ✅ Best for: Those seeking therapeutic-grade oil for health, in controlled doses
  ❌ Drawback: Very high price per mL

2. Kyoord High-Phenolic Olive Oil

• Polyphenol Content: ~992 mg/kg

• Organic: ✅ (DIO-certified, Greece)

• Harvest/Production: Early harvest, hand-picked in Corfu, cold-pressed within hours

• Testing Transparency: ✅ Published 3rd-party lab results

• Packaging: UV-protected glass

• Taste: Robust, peppery, complex

• Price: $49 for 500 mL → $98/L

• ✅ Best for: Everyday use with scientific backing, high trust, and excellent value
  ❌ Drawback: Lower polyphenol count than Alya or Olive From the Raw

3. Olive From the Raw

• Polyphenol Content: ~1250–1700 mg/kg

• Organic: ✅

• Harvest/Production: Cold-pressed, raw/unfiltered

• Testing Transparency: U.S. lab testing

• Packaging: Dark glass bottle

• Taste: Grassy, artichoke, slight bitterness

• Price: $35 for 500 mL → $70/L

• ✅ Best for: Budget-friendly high-polyphenol EVOO
  ❌ Drawback: lower-end packaging

4. Manni Oil of Life

• Polyphenol Content: ~560 mg/kg (lower than others)

• Organic: ✅ (also Kosher, Halal, PGI certified)

• Harvest/Production: Hand-harvested, nitrogen-sealed to preserve antioxidants

• Testing Transparency: Cites testing by Univ. of Florence but no mg/kg posted

• Packaging: High-end UV glass, luxury presentation

• Taste: Smooth, balanced, designed for chefs

• Price: $59 for 250 mL → $236/L

• ✅ Best for: Premium culinary use, chef-level flavor and shelf life
  ❌ Drawback: Lowest polyphenol content, highest per mL price

📊 Final Ranking (Overall)

RankBrandStrengthPrice per Liter🥇 1. KyoordBest balance of quality, science, & price$98/L🥈 2. Olive From the RawHighest value for high polyphenols$70/L🥉 3. AlyaHighest polyphenols, medical-grade$320/L 🟨 4. ManniBest luxury/chef oil, but low polyphenols$236/L

✅ Recommendation Summary:

• Want highest health benefit? → Alya

• Want best value? → Olive From the Raw

• Want proven science & transparency? → Kyoord

• Want the most gourmet flavor? → Manni