What are Nicea’s values?

Americans are buying 5% more olive oil every year but despite this consumers are concerned about news reports of tainted olive oil, spoiled olive oil. 39% of Americans care about how olive oil is processed, 18% care where the olive oil comes from, and 9% want laboratory testing results. We made Nicea to help Americans know where their extra virgin olive oil comes from and that it’s of high quality at an affordable price.

Where does Nicea’s olive oil come from?

Nicea’s olives come from the Gemlik olive Protected of Designated Origin (PDO) region in Bursa, Türkiye (Turkey). We work with villages and olive growing cooperatives around Lake Iznik to source the highest quality olives. One village, Keramet, has been our home and gives us deep roots operating in the region.

How does Nicea make estate-quality olive oil at an affordable price?

Because we work directly with each village and olive growing cooperative, we scout orchards and secure sourcing deals early in the olive season. Our very best olive oil is our Private Reserve Early Harvest, currently from the village of Urğeli.

How do you do your laboratory testing?

Each individual harvest is pressed and immediately sent to a local laboratory. Within a few days, we receive a 7-page report detailing everything that’s inside the bottle. We put the most commonly used metrics on the bottle, free fatty acid content, K270 UV absorbance, peroxide content, and polyphenol count on our label. We also use results to differentiate between our Private Reserve and regular Early Harvest olive oils.

What are free fatty acids?

These are fatty acids that are not bound to a glycerol molecule, allowing them to roam around the oil and oxidize other compounds. They come from bruising and other damage olives receive during harvest along with long storage. To lower our free fatty acid level, all Nicea olives are hand-picked - reducing the damage caused by machine-harvested olives. Our early harvest olives are pressed within hours of harvest. The olives that go into Nicea Everyday extra virgin olive oil are pressed well within a few days.

What does K270 UV absorbance even mean?

We shine a UV light, with a 270 nanometer wavelength, through our olive oil. The amount of UV light that’s absorbed means more of the oil has oxidized.

What is peroxide content?

Sparing the chemistry lesson, peroxides are another indicator of oxidation products in olive oil. Peroxides are nasty because they can also contribute to further oxidation.

What are polyphenols?

Unlike the other results we described, polyphenols are a good thing. Polyphenols are a group of naturally occurring plant compounds that act as powerful antioxidants. They help protect cells from oxidative stress and give olive oil many of its health benefits, flavor, and shelf life. One polyphenol is oleocanthal, which is responsible for the burning sensation you get from good olive oils. It inhibits COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes, the body’s chemical messenger for inflammation and pain, just like ibuprofen

Polyphenol content corresponds to the cultivar, or genetics, of the olive. Our Gemlik olives don’t necessarily have the highest polyphenol count, but we’re putting our results on the bottle because people want to know.

What is so special about Gemlik olives?

As olives, they’re delicious - even for people who don’t ordinarily like olives. They have a slightly smoky taste, smooth, meaty texture, and are less bitter than other olives. For some people, bitter or strong taste turns them off of olive oil. Gemlik olive oil is more palatable, being grassy, floral, and mild. Notably, Gemlik olives have a higher proportion of olive oil than other olives - that helps keep our prices low. 

Gemlik olives have protected designation of origin, like Champagne, while the oil from Gemlik olives does not…yet.

How do I store olive oil?

In dark glass, in a dark place. Cool - though not frozen. Sealed tight. Not in a squeeze bottle.

What is the significance of the tile art on the bottle?

We’re children of Lake Iznik, which is home to Iznik and Iznik tiles. These tiles have been made since the Ottoman era and were a luxury sold to nobility all around the world - starting with the Ottoman sultan. We want our customers to feel like a sultan when they try our olive oils - whether it's the taste or the art. All of the motifs in our tilework are real - if you visit Türkiye or look carefully in the tile backgrounds of Magnificent Century - you might confuse it with a bottle of Nicea.

Why the name Nicea?

Nicea, or more oftenly spelled as Nicaea, is the Greek name for Iznik. Nicea is most famous for the Councils of Nicea that were convened to deliberate and determine Christian dogma. Drawing from Nicea’s heritage, our motto is for those who seek the divine in every drop.

Where can I buy Nicea olive oil?

For now, from our site, www.niceaolives.com. Starting in May 2025, from independent grocery stores around Los Angeles. Reach out to the local supermarket and let them know you want to buy Nicea to see it near you.