TASTE

OIL • VINEGAR • SPICE

experience that is both refreshing and educational.

“It’s fun to work here and be part of my customers’ day,” Foley said, who brings years of customer service into the shop.

Starting as a customer service associate, she eventually worked up to management and bought both locations of Taste OVS.

The oils and vinegar at Taste OVS come from all around the world. Each is high quality, ranking the top spectrum extra virgin olive oil chemistry. Specifically, Taste OVS offers ultra-premium extra virgin olive oil, which is different from the typical oils.

While the label “extra virgin” means the oil comes from a first cold press while falling within specific chemistry standards, the supplier for Taste OVS only brings back oils that rank on the very top end of extra virgin chemistry, known as “ultra-premium.” These are the same oils doctors recommend for heart health.

“Many people buy oil at stores, and they have no idea when they have been pressed,” Foley said. “There’s no crush date or information on when the olives were picked. All our extra virgin oils are pressed within less than four hours of being picked, which locks in the taste and freshness. This puts our oils in an entire league of their own.”

“When you come to our store, you can taste that difference.”

At Taste OVS, you can mix and match vinegar and oils to find the perfect pairings for healthy salad dressings, charcuterie boards or just for cooking. That’s right — the oils can tolerate temperatures up to 450 degrees.

If you need to find the ideal wedding favor or corporate gift, Taste OVS’s “perfect pairings” oil and vinegar sets make excellent gifts. These cute 2 oz bottle pairs that contain one oil and one vinegar variety are neatly packaged in a cellophane bag and tied neatly with a ribbon. For the most choices and to order larger quantities of favors for wed- dings and parties, contact Foley in advance.

Go beyond the front end of the store to find a whole other enjoyable section where you can find even more gifts. Here, you will see the owner’s passion for cooking — and cheeky humor — sprinkled all over. Napkins, cards and aprons with witty quotes are instant novelty gifts you can give on any occasion.

There are also plenty of made-inVirginia products, hand-blended small-batch spices, food items like chutney, simple syrups, soup mixes, tea and many other treats that enhance any gathering. Reclaimed wood housewares and pottery are also for sale around the store.

When Foley isn’t running the shop, she shares her expertise by speaking at special events. She educates people about everything from the health benefits of olive oil to the differences between ultra-premium olive oil and other options.

Taste OVS is located at 122A E Davis St, Culpeper, VA 22701.