You may not be entirely certain what the QvExtra! SIQEV seal means and the implications of seeing it on a bottle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. That’s why we felt it was necessary to collect all the published information and compile it in one sole place for you: this article.
Keep on reading carefully and rediscover the functions of this worldwide seal which is demanding, distinctive, collaborative, pro-consumer and, above all, unique.
The origin of the SIQEV seal
QvExtra was formed at the beginning of 2013, as a product of 15 Spanish producers of EVOO who identified the need to promote the best quality EVOO at a national and international scale. It was a wish that finally came true with the creation of the SIQEV seal.
SIQEV means offering very high-quality extra virgin olive oils, produced in our own land and cooperatives, guaranteeing a total traceability from the tree to the bottle, treating the olive grove like gold and meticulously taking care of the production process in order to share the true excellence of EVOO around the world.
SIQEV guarantees excellence
Currently, QvExtra! is made up of 33 producing partners who take care of the field by using their knowledge of traditions, expertise, wisdom and innovation. These attributes bring with them an outstanding advantage when it comes to choosing the machinery and the professionals, or selecting the raw material.
However, it is not possible to get the seal simply by carefully selecting the olive variety or the equipment used to harvest and process. SIQEV obliges the producers to keep an eye on the maximum time it takes for the raw material to arrive at the mill (it must be less than 2 hours), the optimum harvesting time and even the milling temperature (which must not exceed 24ºC) in order to not to lose the volatile compounds.
The excellence represented by the seal is not easy to be achieved. In fact, not many mills could successfully pass this thorough analysis. Complying with all the SIQEV requirements is a difficult task as it sets out much more rigorous parameters than those outlined in the current regulations.
Parameters such as the amount of monounsaturated fatty acids, the fruitiness value, the antioxidant content or the continuous quality controls which make any EVOO with the SIQEV seal become, on its own merits, synonymous with EXCELLENCE.
In other words: the SIQEV seal signifies the maximum quality in flavour, scent, packaging and production.
Complying with all the SIQEV requirements is a difficult task as it sets out much more rigorous parameters than those outlined in the current regulations.
A SIQEV EVOO has better health benefits
The SIQEV seal does not only ensure excellence, but also contains all the nutrients that an EVOO naturally has. These nutrients, in addition to aiding the functioning of the body, make it the healthiest natural fat in the world. That is why it is the star of the Mediterranean diet.
In QvExtra! we have been working for many years to offer you the best Extra Virgin Olive Oil, which contains a greater number of polyphenols. How do we do this? It’s simple – we make our product with green olives that are harvested early and are fresh, since this is when they present the greatest number of polyphenols.
In order to highlight our commitment to good health, we carry out at least one control a year at origin and point of sale, which is done by an external company who are experts in sampling.
Choosing a SIQEV EVOO is choosing maximum quality
All these differences and requirements bring to light our desire to make the SIQEV seal the greatest possible synonym of perfection. In addition, they highlight our passion for proecting the EVOO culture; an aim that along with the job of all the producers associated in QvExtra! make the seal a differentiating factor when it comes to buying an Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
