Personalized Infused Olive Oil Wedding Favors For Your Guests

Infused olive oil is a unique and thoughtful wedding favour that your guests are sure to love. Not only are they valuable, delicious, and beautiful, but they are also a great way to add a personal touch to your special day. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to make your own infused olive oil wedding favours, from choosing the right ingredients to creating custom labels and tags. We will also provide suggestions for flavour combinations and offer tips on how to make your favours look elegant and luxurious. So, whether you're planning a rustic or refined celebration, read on to discover how to create infused olive oil wedding favours that your guests will adore.

Choosing the right olive oil

Type of Olive Oil

The first step is to decide on the type of olive oil you want to use. Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is the highest grade available, known for its rich flavor and aroma. It has a complex taste profile, ranging from fruity and nutty to grassy and herbal, sometimes with a pleasant bitterness and pungency. This variety is an excellent choice if you want a full-bodied, nuanced flavor in your infused oil favors. However, keep in mind that EVOO can be more expensive than other types of olive oil.

Alternatively, you can opt for regular olive oil, which is a blend of heat-refined and extra virgin or virgin olive oil. This type of oil has a milder flavor and is more affordable. If you're looking to create a more subtle infusion, regular olive oil may be a better choice.

Quality and Freshness

When selecting your olive oil, it's essential to consider the quality and freshness. Look for a harvest date on the bottle, as this indicates when the olives were picked and crushed. Aim for the most recent harvest to ensure maximum freshness. If you can't find a harvest date, check for a "best by" date and choose a bottle with a date that is furthest from the date of purchase. Additionally, consider the packaging material, as light can affect the flavor of the oil. Opt for bottles made of amber, black, or green glass, or even cans, to better protect the oil from light oxidation.

Flavor and Intensity

The flavor and intensity of the olive oil you choose will depend on your personal preference and the herbs or ingredients you plan to infuse. If you want the olive oil's flavor to shine through, opt for a super-premium EVOO with a robust and fruity flavor profile. These oils are perfect for dipping and drizzling, adding a luxurious touch to your wedding favors. For a more subtle approach, select a milder olive oil that will complement the flavors of your infusion without overpowering them.

Usage and Versatility

Consider how you want to use the infused olive oil. If you plan to create a versatile oil that your guests can use for various dishes, choose an everyday EVOO. These "workhorse" oils are excellent for cooking, dressings, and marinades, making them a versatile choice for your guests to enjoy in their kitchens. However, if you want to showcase the oil's flavor, opt for a more delicate, nuanced oil that will elevate the taste of the dish without being too overpowering.

Health Benefits

Extra virgin olive oil is renowned for its health benefits due to its rich content of monounsaturated fats and antioxidants. When selecting an olive oil, consider the health-conscious guests who will be attending your wedding. EVOO is known to be the healthiest choice, as it retains its stability when heated and has a similar smoke point to other cooking oils. Additionally, its polyphenols and antioxidants fight cell damage, contributing to heart health.

Preparing the infusion ingredients

To make infused olive oil wedding favors, you'll need to start by selecting your desired infusion ingredients. Fresh herbs like rosemary or other herbal flavors are popular choices, but you can also experiment with something spicy like chipotle chili peppers or even add a little sweetness to your oil. Wash your chosen herbs or spices and let them dry overnight. This step is crucial to ensure that no bacteria-causing water remains on your ingredients, which can lead to murky oil or bacterial growth.

If you're using herbs, let them sit in open air for at least 24 hours until they are bone dry. You can then slip the herbs into your chosen bottles, or lightly toast them in the oven, or slightly bruise them with a mortar and pestle to release their flavors. For fruits and chilies, simply cutting them will be enough to release their flavors.

Once your infusion ingredients are prepared, you can move on to the next step of assembling your favors.

• If you're using fresh rosemary, one to three sprigs per bottle is a good amount.
• Don't be tempted to skip the drying process, as it's important to prevent bacteria and ensure clear, high-quality oil.
• If you want to add some heat to your oil, try using chili peppers.
• Experiment with different combinations of herbs, spices, and fruits to create unique flavor profiles for your olive oil favors.

Combining oil and ingredients

Firstly, you will need to decide on your ingredients. Fresh rosemary sprigs are a popular choice, but you can also use chipotle chilli peppers, or even fruit. Once you have chosen your ingredients, give them a quick rinse and leave them to dry overnight. This is an important step, as any water left on the ingredients could cause bacteria to form in the oil.

Next, you will need to release the flavours of your ingredients. You can do this by lightly toasting them in the oven, or by bruising them with a mortar and pestle. For fruit and chilli, simply cutting them will be enough to release their flavours.

Now you are ready to combine the oil and the ingredients. Place the herbs or fruit in your chosen bottles, and cover with olive oil. Seal the bottles and store them in a cool, dark place for one to three weeks. It is a good idea to do a taste test at the one-week mark, as the oil may need longer to infuse.

Finally, add a tag with a cute note to your guests, letting them know the best way to store the oil and how long it will keep.

Storing the oil

Bottling and Sealing:

Before storing the infused olive oil, it is important to use clean, dry bottles. Wash and dry the bottles thoroughly and let them air dry overnight with the herbs or fruit that will be used for infusion. This will ensure that no moisture is left behind, as it can lead to bacteria growth. After adding the infused ingredients and filling the bottles with olive oil, seal them tightly. You can use corks or caps, depending on the type of bottle you have chosen.

Storage Conditions:

Once the bottles are sealed, store them in a cool, dark place, such as a pantry or cupboard. Avoid exposing the oil to direct sunlight or heat sources, as this can cause oxidation and rancidity. The ideal storage temperature for olive oil is between 57-68°F (14-20°C). If the room temperature is consistently higher than this range, it is recommended to store the oil in the refrigerator. However, note that refrigeration may cause the oil to become cloudy and solidify, which is entirely normal and will not affect its quality.

Storage Duration:

Infused olive oil should be stored for at least one to two weeks before use to allow the flavors to develop and infuse properly. However, it is important to monitor the oil during this time, as the infusion process can vary depending on the ingredients used. Perform a taste test at the one-week mark to assess the intensity of the flavor. If the flavor is not strong enough, continue infusing for another week or until the desired taste is achieved.

Shelf Life:

The shelf life of infused olive oil depends on various factors, including the quality of the oil, the type of ingredients used for infusion, and storage conditions. On average, infused olive oil can last for about one month after opening if stored properly. However, it is important to remind your guests that infused oils can spoil more quickly than plain olive oil, so they should be used within the recommended timeframe.

Guest Instructions:

It is a good idea to include a cute favor tag with instructions for your guests on how to store and use the infused olive oil. You can use a Sharpie to write a note, such as: "Please keep me in a cool, dark place or in the refrigerator and use me within one month after opening! Because I'm infused, I can spoil quickly." This will ensure that your guests get the most out of their favors and enjoy them while they're fresh.

Labelling the bottles

There are many ways to label your infused olive oil wedding favours. You can personalise the labels with your wedding date and text of your choice. You can also download clip art and use Adobe Reader to replace the placeholder text with your own.

If you want to add a rustic touch, you can use brown paper and a sharpie to write a cute note to your guests, such as:

> "Please keep me in a cool, dark place or in the refrigerator and use me within one month after opening! Because I’m infused, I can spoil quickly."

You can tie the tag to the bottle with string, or print the labels onto sticker paper and apply them to the bottle. You can also add a small circle of canvas or linen fabric, tied with a ribbon and a paper cut-out herb sprig.

If you are using a cork bottle, you can also add a cork band with your personalised text.

Frequently asked questions