A real story from a restaurant in Tallinn
During a lunch in a cozy restaurant in Tallinn, something on the table immediately caught our attention: the olive oil bottle.
This image represents a situation we’ve seen in several restaurants – it’s not about one place, but about a common practice worth discussing
At first glance, everything looked perfect – warm lights, rustic wood tables, a charming atmosphere. But then we noticed the olive oil was:
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In a transparent bottle
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Unlabeled
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Open and reused
This may seem like a detail... but when it comes to olive oil, details make the difference.
⚠️ What’s wrong with this picture?
👉 Transparent bottle
Olive oil is highly sensitive to light. Clear bottles expose it to oxidation and spoil its flavor and health benefits.
👉 No label
If there’s no label, you have no idea what you're actually using. Is it extra virgin? When was it made? Where does it come from?
👉 Open to air
A bottle that’s constantly open lets oxygen in, and that accelerates aging and possible contamination.
👉 No traceability
Without clear information, there’s no guarantee of quality. It could be refined oil—or not even olive oil at all.
🌿 Olive oil is alive
Real extra virgin olive oil is full of antioxidants, vitamin E and flavor. But it’s also delicate.
When it's not stored properly, it quickly loses all its goodness.
Unfortunately, poor handling of olive oil is still common in restaurants—even in places that care about food quality.
✅ What should a good restaurant do?
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Use dark glass bottles or stainless steel containers
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Provide clear information: origin, variety, harvest date
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Use non-refillable caps
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Offer traceable, artisan olive oil that respects the ingredient and the customer
💬 Every drop tells a story
Next time you sit at a table, look at the olive oil bottle and ask yourself:
"Do I know what I'm really using?"
At Itaaliamaja, we work with small producers in Italy who bottle their oil with care, quality, and full transparency.
💚 Our mission: to bring authentic, artisan extra virgin olive oil from Italy to your table — the right way.