High-Polyphenol Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EU Health Claim Verified)
Welcome to The Monk Olive Oil in Corfu. This page explains, in a clear and transparent way, what “high polyphenols” means, what the EU-authorised olive oil polyphenols claim says, and how our laboratory results support each published batch.
The EU Polyphenols Health Claim (Reg. 432/2012)
EU-authorised claim: “Olive oil polyphenols contribute to the protection of blood lipids from oxidative stress.”
Important: The beneficial effect is obtained with a daily intake of 20 g of olive oil.
To use this claim, the olive oil must contain at least 5 mg of hydroxytyrosol and its derivatives per 20 g of olive oil. Both published batches below exceed this threshold according to the laboratory results.
Source: EU Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 (EUR-Lex)
Our Lab Results (Batch Transparency)
We publish batch-specific numbers so customers can compare quality using objective laboratory and sensory information — not vague marketing terms.
Quick Proof — Harvest 2025/26
- Product: The Monk Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil 200ml
- Variety: Monovarietal Lianolia
- Origin: Marmaro, Corfu, Greece
- Hydroxytyrosol & derivatives: 12 mg / 20 g
- EU threshold: ≥ 5 mg / 20 g
- Panel test: Defects 0.0 | Fruity 4.7 | Bitter 4.3 | Pungent 4.7
- Classification: Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Current Batch — Harvest 2025-26 / 200ml Monovarietal Lianolia
The current release is The Monk Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil 200ml — Harvest 2025-26, produced from the Lianolia variety and bottled in limited, individually numbered 200ml bottles.
| Product | The Monk Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil 200ml |
| Harvest | 2025-26 |
| Olive variety | Monovarietal Lianolia |
| Origin | Marmaro, Corfu, Greece |
| EU claim threshold | ≥ 5 mg hydroxytyrosol and derivatives / 20 g olive oil |
| Measured hydroxytyrosol & derivatives | 12 mg / 20 g |
| Hydroxytyrosol (3,4 DHPEA) | 30 mg/kg |
| Tyrosol (p-HPEA) | 15 mg/kg |
| Oleacin | 206 mg/kg |
| Oleocanthal | 176 mg/kg |
| Lignans | 25 mg/kg |
| Oleuropein aglycon | 114 mg/kg |
| Ligstroside aglycon | 36 mg/kg |
| Organoleptic defects | 0.0 |
| Fruity | 4.7 |
| Bitter | 4.3 |
| Pungent | 4.7 |
| Panel classification | Extra Virgin Olive Oil |
Existing Batch — Harvest 2024-25 / 250ml Monovarietal Lianolia
The 250ml Harvest 2024/25 bottle remains part of our published batch history. Its laboratory and sensory results are kept here for transparency, so customers can clearly distinguish it from the current 200ml Harvest 2025-26 batch.
| Product | The Monk Extra Virgin Olive Oil 250ml |
| Harvest | 2024/25 |
| EU claim threshold | ≥ 5 mg hydroxytyrosol and derivatives / 20 g olive oil |
| Measured hydroxytyrosol & derivatives | 8.2 mg / 20 g |
| Hydroxytyrosol (3,4 DHPEA) | 12 mg/kg |
| Tyrosol (p-HPEA) | 14 mg/kg |
| Oleacin | 174 mg/kg |
| Oleocanthal | 110 mg/kg |
| Lignans | 37 mg/kg |
| Oleuropein aglycon | 76 mg/kg |
| Ligstroside aglycon | 22 mg/kg |
| Oleic acid (Omega-9) | 68.43% |
| Linoleic acid (Omega-6) | 10.24% |
| Alpha-linolenic acid (Omega-3) | 0.78% |
| Trans C18:1 | 0.01% |
| Organoleptic defects | 0.0 |
| Fruity | 3.8 |
| Bitter | 2.9 |
| Pungent | 3.6 |
| Panel classification | Extra Virgin Olive Oil |
Batch Comparison at a Glance
| Batch | Harvest 2025-26 / 200ml | Harvest 2024-25 / 250ml |
| Hydroxytyrosol & derivatives | 12 mg / 20 g | 8.2 mg / 20 g |
| Oleacin | 206 mg/kg | 174 mg/kg |
| Oleocanthal | 176 mg/kg | 110 mg/kg |
| Defects | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Fruity | 4.7 | 3.8 |
| Bitter | 4.3 | 2.9 |
| Pungent | 4.7 | 3.6 |
| Classification | Extra Virgin Olive Oil | Extra Virgin Olive Oil |
How to Get the Daily 20 g (Simple Routine)
20 g of olive oil is approximately 1.5 tablespoons. It can be used raw or added at the end of cooking, where the aroma, fruitiness, bitterness and peppery finish of a quality extra virgin olive oil can be appreciated more clearly.
- Salads: drizzle olive oil over fresh vegetables.
- Cooked vegetables: add olive oil after cooking, away from direct heat.
- Bread tasting: taste it with fresh bread, as part of a simple daily routine.
- Legumes and soups: finish the plate with olive oil before serving.
Unfiltered: What It Means
Unfiltered extra virgin olive oil may contain tiny olive particles and may develop natural sediment over time. This is normal for unfiltered olive oil. Store the bottle away from heat and light and close the cap tightly after each use.
FAQs
Is this olive oil a medicine?
No. This is a food product. We share laboratory information and the EU-authorised olive oil polyphenols claim, but we do not present olive oil as a treatment for any disease.
What do the mg / 20 g values mean?
The mg / 20 g value shows the amount of hydroxytyrosol and its derivatives measured for 20 g of olive oil. The EU claim threshold is at least 5 mg / 20 g. The Harvest 2025-26 batch measured 12 mg / 20 g, while the Harvest 2024/25 batch measured 8.2 mg / 20 g.
What do fruity, bitter and pungent mean?
These are sensory attributes used in the official organoleptic evaluation of olive oil. Fruity describes the olive-fruit aroma, bitter is a normal positive attribute of many quality extra virgin olive oils, and pungent describes the peppery sensation often linked with fresh olive oil character.
Why do you publish Oleacin and Oleocanthal numbers?
Because transparency matters. These are measured compounds reported in the laboratory analysis, and they help customers understand why different extra virgin olive oils can taste and behave differently.
Where is this olive oil produced?
The Monk Olive Oil is connected to our family production story in Marmaro, Corfu, Greece, and is bottled in limited seasonal batches.
Ready to Taste It?
If you want to experience the difference in aroma, bitterness and pungency, you can either shop the current 200ml Harvest 2025-26 batch online or visit us for a guided olive oil tasting in Corfu.
Compliance note: This page follows the EU-authorised wording for olive oil polyphenols. If you have medical conditions or take medication, consult a healthcare professional for personalised advice.