How to make olive oil taste better for drinking? A Complete Guide

November 22, 2025 •

4 min read

According to a 2014 study, daily olive oil consumption significantly relieved constipation in hemodialysis patients, prompting many to consider daily 'wellness shots' for its benefits. Learning how to make olive oil taste better for drinking is crucial for establishing and sticking with this healthy routine.

Quick Summary

Enhance your daily olive oil shot by choosing the right type and mixing it with flavorful ingredients like lemon, ginger, or honey. This guide offers techniques to create a more palatable wellness routine, balancing taste and health benefits.

Key Points

Choose the right EVOO: Start with a mild, high-quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) to minimize bitterness.
Mix with citrus: A squeeze of fresh lemon, orange, or other citrus juice cuts the oil's intense taste and adds vitamin C.
Add natural sweetness: A spoonful of raw honey or maple syrup can balance the pungency and make it more palatable.
Blend an elixir: Create a wellness elixir by combining EVOO with lemon, ginger, and honey in a blender for a flavorful, spicy kick.
Infuse your own flavor: Cold infuse your oil with herbs like basil or spices like chili to create a custom, palatable drinking experience.
Adjust the temperature: Serving the olive oil at room temperature, rather than cold, enhances its subtle flavors and makes it feel less thick.

For centuries, olive oil has been a staple of the Mediterranean diet, celebrated not only for its culinary versatility but also for its impressive health benefits. Regular consumption is linked to better heart health, reduced inflammation, and improved digestion, thanks to its high concentration of monounsaturated fats and powerful antioxidants called polyphenols. While some enjoy the robust, peppery flavor of high-quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) straight, others find the intensity a hurdle. This guide provides practical methods and delicious recipes to make drinking olive oil a pleasant part of your daily wellness ritual.

Choosing the Right Olive Oil

The foundation of a good-tasting wellness shot is a high-quality olive oil. The taste profile can vary dramatically, from mild and buttery to intensely bitter and pungent, depending on the olive variety and harvest time. Opting for a fresh, well-balanced EVOO is key.

Understand the Flavor Profiles

Delicate/Mild: These oils have a smooth, buttery taste with minimal bitterness. They are ideal for beginners and those with sensitive palates, offering a less intense experience. Look for oils made from Arbequina or Chemlali olives.
Medium/Balanced: Offering a good balance of fruitiness, bitterness, and pungency, these oils are versatile. They pair well with many foods and serve as a good middle ground.
Robust/Intense: Often from early harvests, these EVOOs are higher in polyphenols and feature a strong, peppery kick at the back of the throat. While highly beneficial, their intense flavor requires more masking for drinking. Coratina and Picual olives are known for this intensity.

How to Mask the Flavor of Olive Oil

Blending olive oil with other ingredients is the most effective way to make it more palatable. Here are several simple, delicious additions to try.

The Classic Lemon & EVOO Shot

This popular combination is a time-tested remedy for digestion and a great way to start the day. The acidity of the lemon cuts through the richness of the oil, brightening the flavor. For a simple shot, mix one tablespoon of high-quality EVOO with the fresh juice of half a lemon.

The Immune-Boosting Ginger & Honey Elixir

Add a spicy, warming element to your oil shot by blending in fresh ginger and honey. Honey provides natural sweetness to balance the bitterness of the oil and the kick of the ginger. A simple recipe involves blending a whole lemon, a knob of fresh ginger, two tablespoons of EVOO, and a tablespoon of raw honey with water. Strain the mixture and enjoy.

Blending into Smoothies

For a completely masked flavor, simply add a tablespoon or two of EVOO to your daily fruit or green smoothie. The other ingredients—like berries, spinach, or protein powder—will completely cover the oily taste, while you still get all the nutritional benefits. It’s an effortless way to incorporate more healthy fats into your diet.

Infusing for Flavor

For a customized taste, consider infusing your own olive oil with natural flavors.

Herbs: Use fresh herbs like basil, rosemary, or thyme for a savory infusion.
Citrus: Add thin slices or zest of lemon, orange, or blood orange.
Spices: Infuse with chili flakes, garlic, or peppercorns for a spicy kick.

To infuse, gently warm the oil and your ingredients over low heat for 5-10 minutes, let it cool, then strain and store in a sterilized, airtight container.

Practical Tips for a Better Drinking Experience

Beyond mixing, a few other tips can help improve the experience of drinking olive oil.

Start Small: If you're new to drinking olive oil, start with a teaspoon and gradually work up to a tablespoon as your palate adjusts.
Use a Straw: Using a straw to sip the oil can help bypass some of your taste buds, minimizing the strong flavor.
Room Temperature is Best: The flavors and aromas of olive oil are most pronounced at room temperature. Avoid drinking it cold, as this can make the oil seem thicker and less pleasant.
Mind the Time: Drinking it on an empty stomach in the morning can boost digestion, but if you have a sensitive stomach, consuming it with a small amount of food can prevent discomfort.

EVOO Cultivar Comparison for Drinking

Not all olive oils are created equal when it comes to drinking. Cultivars vary widely in flavor intensity and polyphenol content. The table below compares three popular EVOO types suitable for daily consumption.


Cultivar	Flavor Profile	Palatability for Drinking	Polyphenol Content
Arbequina	Mild, fruity, and buttery with notes of apple and almond.	High. Its smoothness and low bitterness make it an easy choice for newcomers.	Moderate to low.
Koroneiki	Robust, intensely fruity, and peppery with grassy, herbal notes.	Moderate to low. The peppery, pungent finish can be very strong for some, requiring more mixing.	High.
Picual	Strong, robust, and bitter with a distinct peppery finish.	Low. Its bold flavor makes it less palatable to drink straight, but it is excellent for infusing or mixing.	High.

Conclusion

Drinking olive oil can be a powerful way to harness its many health benefits, but it doesn't have to be an unpleasant task. By selecting a high-quality, fresh EVOO and experimenting with simple additions like lemon juice, honey, or ginger, you can transform your wellness shot into a delicious and enjoyable ritual. Whether you blend it into a smoothie or infuse it with your favorite herbs, making olive oil taste better for drinking is an achievable goal that will allow you to reap the rewards of this liquid gold. Remember to start with small amounts and find a routine that works best for you and your taste buds.

For more information on the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet and EVOO, visit the National Institutes of Health.

Frequently Asked Questions

The bitter and peppery taste in high-quality extra virgin olive oil is due to polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants. A pronounced peppery kick is often a sign of freshness and a high polyphenol content, which offers many health benefits.

While many people prefer drinking olive oil on an empty stomach for better digestion and nutrient absorption, there is no definitive scientific evidence that this is superior to consuming it with food. Listen to your body and choose the timing that works best for you.

Yes, you can mix olive oil with warm water to dilute its strength and improve palatability. Add honey and lemon juice to the warm water before stirring in the olive oil for an easy, soothing drink.

High heat can degrade some of the oil's delicate antioxidants, such as vitamin C and certain polyphenols. For this reason, it is best to mix olive oil with cool or lukewarm ingredients to preserve its maximum nutritional value. Moderate cooking temperatures are generally fine for EVOO, but for drinking, keep it cool.

Choose a fresh, high-quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) with a recent harvest date printed on the bottle. Look for varieties with a flavor profile you enjoy, such as a mild Arbequina, and consider high-polyphenol options for maximum health benefits.

A high-phenolic olive oil has a significantly higher concentration of polyphenols than standard EVOO, typically exceeding 250mg/kg. These oils often have a more robust, bitter, and peppery flavor profile, indicating potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Yes, adding a tablespoon or two of extra virgin olive oil to a fruit or vegetable smoothie is an excellent way to incorporate healthy fats without the taste. It's a quick and easy method that masks the oil's flavor entirely.