The olive harvest in Israel runs three to four months, from October to January, according to the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. Shop in that window and you may find bottles from the new crop. Here is how to check that what you pick up is the real thing.

What the label should say

An expiry date alone does not tell you when the olives were picked. The International Olive Council (IOC) trade standard requires a "best before end" date by month and year, but it does not require a harvest date. Look for a bottle that also states harvest or production, and choose the most recent year.

"Extra virgin" is a grade with a limit: free acidity of no more than 0.8 grams per 100 grams, per the same standard. That figure is a ceiling, not a promise of flavor.

A dark bottle or a tin matters because light, according to the IOC consumer guidelines, is the main threat to olive oil quality. The standard itself does not require dark glass, so that check is yours to make.

What new oil should taste like

New oil is often green and sharp. The IOC sensory method lists bitterness and pungency as positive attributes and describes pungency as typical of oil made at the start of the crop year from olives that are still unripe. A bite at the back of the throat is a good sign, not a flaw. A mild oil, where both are low, is still sound, just a different style.

How to store it at home

The IOC puts light first and heat second. Keep the bottle somewhere dark or under an opaque cover, away from the stove, the oven and the window. Once opened, seal it well, because air speeds up oxidation, and use it within one to three months. Buy only what you can finish within a year. If you decant from a large tin, use dark glass, ceramic or stainless steel, not iron.

FAQ

Is new-harvest oil always better?
It is fresher, but storage matters as much. Older oil kept well beats new oil that sat by a sunny window for a year.

What if the bottle has no harvest date?
Ask the producer or the seller. Without an answer, you are left with the "best before end" date, which tells you less.

How long does opened oil keep?
According to the IOC, one to three months, if the bottle is sealed well and kept away from light and heat.