Welcome to The Piquant Palate. We are a specialty purveyor of award-winning artisanal olive oils from Australia. We import fresh product direct from the oil maker, bottled to order and shipped to us straight from the grove gates.

Our mission is to seek out and offer the finest, most flavorful 100% extra virgin oils from small-scale producers representative of the breadth of Australian terroirs and climates.

We cater to food enthusiasts who value premium oils of freshness, vibrancy and nuance. We foster selection and use of a range of oils, in pairings akin to food & wine, for maximum flavor enhancement. We believe strongly in education about olives and olive oil. We advocate for informed sampling and tasting of fine oils before purchase wherever possible.

We are partial to piquancy – one of three essential taste characteristics in a well-balanced oil. Know that peppery ‘kick’ a fine oil imparts at the back of your throat? That’s piquancy. It tells you that the oil is fresh, and that it’s chock-full of all the healthy antioxidant qualities that make extra virgin olive oil such a perfect choice for everyday healthful culinary enjoyment.

Many are surprised to learn Australia produces exceptional olive oil, yet olives have been cultivated there since the early 1800s. In fact, Australia’s ‘good oil’ consistently surpasses international extra virgin standards. Trusted Australian brands now compete with popular European oils on US supermarket shelves for consumers’ everyday staple use.

At The Piquant Palate, where our roots ‘down under’ date back 22 years, we specialize in the very highest quality and most unique oils coming out of Australia. We aspire to add luster to Australia’s growing reputation by representing an elite but diverse range of truly outstanding, internationally acclaimed oil makers, who despite their smaller size are committed to creating a loyal following with discerning American consumers.

All our oils are 100% guaranteed for quality and freshness. . . and at least a little piquancy.

The Piquant Palate currently proudly represents Victorian Olive Groves, a four-family partnership based in country Victoria in Australia’s southeast.

In the future as we grow, we look forward to working with other exemplary producers of fine extra virgin from across Australia, to more fully capture, and offer to you, the sun-drenched, fresh-pressed zest that abounds in this great southern land.

Please check back with us in the weeks to come – new features and information are under development for 2009!