Sediment in Olive Oil: What to Know Before Bottling
Seeing sediment in freshly produced olive oil is not unusual. Small particles of olive fruit can remain in the oil after milling, particularly when the oil has not been filtered.
Why Does Sediment Sometimes Show Up After Bottling?
Temperature plays an important role.
During colder weather, olive oil becomes thicker and fine sediment may settle much more slowly or remain suspended throughout the oil. This can make the oil appear relatively clear in a tote or drum even though fine sediment is still present.
Once the bottled oil is stored at warmer temperatures, those suspended particles may gradually settle to the bottom of the bottle and become more noticeable.
This is why simply allowing oil to “sit” before bottling does not always guarantee a sediment-free finished product - especially during the colder months.
Want a Clearer Finished Product?
If clarity is important to your finished product, we recommend discussing your options with your mill before your oil is delivered for bottling.
Depending on the mill and your preferences, options may include:
Filtering the oil at the mill
Racking the oil after allowing sediment to settle
Purging sediment from the bottom of the storage container
Not all mills provide the same services, so it is a good idea to ask what options are available when your olives are milled.
What Happens When Your Oil Arrives at Our Facility?
California Olive Oil Co-Packer, Inc. is a bottling facility. We bottle your oil as it is received.
We do not filter, clarify, or otherwise alter your olive oil. If fine sediment is suspended in the oil when it arrives, some of that sediment may make its way into the finished bottles - even if it is not immediately visible during production.
If you prefer a clear finished product with minimal sediment, please work with your mill to prepare the oil accordingly before sending it to us for bottling.
YOUR OIL. BOTTLED AS RECEIVED.
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