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Moraiolo

Italy · Umbria & Tuscany

The bold heart of Umbrian oil — intense artichoke and bitter herbs with a strong peppery finish. The robust backbone of central-Italian blends.

RobustItalyHigh polyphenolOil
Profile

Moraiolo gives central Italy — especially Umbria — its reputation for bold, green, peppery oil. The flavor is decisively herbaceous: artichoke, bitter herbs and a strong pungent finish, with high polyphenols and good structure. It is more demanding to grow than Frantoio or Leccino, preferring warmer hillsides, and is usually the variety that brings power and grip to a Tuscan or Umbrian blend.

Flavor

Bold and herbaceous: artichoke, bitter herbs and a strong peppery finish.

ArtichokeBitter HerbsGreen AlmondPepperFresh Grass

Taste Axes (0–5)

Fruitiness3.5
Bitterness4
Pungency4
Grassy / Herbal4
Sweetness1.5
Intensity4
Harvest Window — Northern Hemisphere

Harvested from late October through December. Buy the freshest crop you can find — and check the harvest date on the bottle.

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At a Glance
CountryItaly
RegionUmbria & Tuscany
Also calledMorinello, Oliva Nera
IntensityRobust
PolyphenolsHigh
RipeningMid
Used forOil
In the Kitchen
Drizzling on grilled meatsHearty soups (ribollita)Bitter greensBruschettaLegumes
Sources