Olive Oil Tasting Set: Compare a little, find a favorite

Choose the kind of tasting they’ll enjoy

A tasting set gives a keen cook several oils to try without committing to a large bottle of each. One might suit a tomato salad; another might be the one they save for bread. The pleasure is in noticing the difference, not collecting the most bottles.

Plain extra virgin oils let them compare varieties, origins or producers. Infused oils add ingredients such as garlic, herbs or chili. Both can be good gifts, but they answer different questions: which oil do I like? or which flavor would I cook with?

Read what is actually in the set

• Compare bottle volume as well as count. A large sampler may contain only a few tastes of each oil.

• Look for an ingredient list and useful producer information. Some collections mix olive oils with balsamic vinegars.

• Match any infused flavors to food they already enjoy, and check allergens or dietary requirements.

For a plain-oil selection, a harvest date can be more informative than an elaborate presentation box. Check the stated shelf life and the seller’s delivery estimate if the gift is for a later occasion.

Make the first tasting easy

A loaf of bread and a note suggesting they compare a little of each can be enough. They can then try their favorites on familiar meals. Follow each bottle’s storage instructions; generally, keeping oils tightly closed away from heat and light helps preserve their quality.

If they would rather experiment while cooking, a spice gift set offers dry seasonings to work into recipes. A hot sauce gift set suits someone who already reaches for a spicy condiment at the table.