Ojai Olive Oil

We had a great time this weekend doing the Olive Oil Tasting. They have over 15 different types of olive oils and you are able to sample them all for just $10. You fill up your cups with the ones you want to select, they give you small bread squares to dip, and they even have a beautiful, shaded sitting area where you can sample the oils. They have a large parking lot right out front and it’s in a quiet part of Ojai, which makes it really fun to drive to. The service was great and they did a great job explaining the different oils. We ended up buying our favorites which were Provençal, Lemon, Garlic, and Traditional Balsamic. I cook seafood often so the Lemon Olive Oil will go perfectly with that because it’s packed with a delicious lemon flavor. Also the Provençal was our favorite of the four main varieties, although many tables around us seemed to prefer the Andalusian, which has a more peppery finish to it vs the fruity finish that Provençal has. Overall a truly great experience and a must do when visiting Ojai. We drove up from Los Angeles especially for this and were very happy that we did so.

It was my fourth time in Ojai Olive Oil Farm. I must say, the flavors of their oils and vinegars are absolutely divine. My top picks includes: - Venigar Peach - Vinegar Espresso - Vinegar Fig - Garlic Oil - Tuscan Herb Oil - Lemon Oil While they do provide bread for dipping, I suggest bringing your own French baguette for an even better experience. You can also enhance your visit by bringing along cheese, wine, and your own tablecloth, making it a truly perfect outing.

Worth checking out this place outside of Ojai if you're in the area. The staff were friendly and we met their furry employee Penguin. We did the $10 tasting which seemed like good value (though the bread they served was just basic white bread). Try 21 different oils and vinegars - we ended up buying the Tuscan Herb oil and the Fig Vinegar. Had fun trying all the flavors. We went at the end of the season, so there wasn't much to see beyond the tasting room (the milling area was closed) but in the summer there's a bit more.

The olive oil and balsamic tasting was nice but it felt very commercialized trying to get us through as fast as possible. There unfortunately is no tour of the grove. The best and worst part of the experience. During the tasting they had an espresso balsamic vinegar which was delicious. So I bought a bottle, but when I got it home the bottle was mislabeled because it had no espresso flavor and was clearly another type of vinegar (they sell many variations). I sent them a note and they kindly sent me a new bottle, but it was also not the espresso balsamic. I again let them know but they were insistent it was correct and wouldn't send the right vinegar. So in the end I spent money on a bottle of vinegar that I didn't want. So mixed ratings on this experience. Go for the tasting but don't expect a very personal experience and don't buy anything (or try it before you leave).