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When it comes to olive oil, chefs don’t mess around. They know the importance of good quality oil, and how it can elevate a dish in both flavor and texture. Celebrity chef Alton Brown is no exception — known for his scientific approach to cooking, of course he would have a go-to olive oil. Not all olive oils are created equal, and here’s which brand Brown depends on in his no-nonsense kitchen.
When asked about his favorite brands at the grocery store, Brown told Food Network, “I’m crazy about Georgia Olive Farms olive oil because it’s green, bright, fruity and from my home state.” This is particularly interesting because Georgia is not known for olive production, but rather other crops like peanuts, pecans, and peaches. Most olives and olive oil come from abroad, from countries like Spain. Domestically, California produces 95% of the olives that are grown in the United States, but a very small percentage are grown in Georgia.
Georgia Olive Farms, based in Lakeland, is one significant producer in the southern state, growing olive varieties like arbosana, arbequina, and koroneiki that originate in the Mediterranean. The farm was founded in 2009 with a mission to bring olive cultivation back to Georgia, a state that hadn’t seen a commercial olive harvest since the 1800s. The farm’s first successful harvest came in 2011, the first to do so since before the Civil War, when Georgia had a small but active olive-growing community.
What sets Georgia Olive Farms apart from other brands
Georgia Olive Farms check all the boxes in Chowhound’s olive oil buying guide. It can be seriously overwhelming to stand in the olive oil aisle and select a bottle, but if you see Georgia Olive Farms, you’re in luck. For starters, all of their oils come packaged in dark glass, which protects the integrity of the product. It’s labeled extra virgin (which means it has not been refined) and they use the cold press method within hours of harvest, to maintain all the flavor, antioxidants, and nutritional value.
Even if your local grocery store doesn’t carry this brand, a 16.9-ounce bottle of Georgia Olive Farms Extra Virgin Olive Oil can be purchased on Amazon. It’s certainly not your cheapest bottle, with a price tag of $37, but besides Alton Brown’s backing, customers also love the brand. The product, specifically labeled as a chef’s blend, gets 4.6 stars with many customer reviews stating it’s one of the best olive oils they’ve ever tasted. As one customer stated, “You don’t need to go to Italy to find great olive oil,” as this one has an excellent flavor, aroma, and a smooth buttery texture. The company currently has two offerings: The chef’s blend, which is what Alton Brown keeps stocked, and a 100% arbequina olive oil.