Tenuta del Barone di Montemurlo — Toscano PGI extra virgin olive oil from Tuscany
Sending an olive oil gift abroad: what to check before you order
Before sending olive oil abroad as a gift, three things matter: that it arrives unbroken, that it arrives in time, and that the person receiving it understands what they are drinking. All three need checking before you order, not after.
Packaging matters more than the bottle
Olive oil travels in glass, and glass breaks if the packaging does not protect it properly. A serious online seller uses boxes with internal padding or rigid inserts designed for liquids, not just a cardboard box stuffed with paper. Before ordering, it is worth asking how the shipment is packed: this one question prevents the most common problem, a bottle arriving broken.
One detail people forget: the longer the journey, the sturdier the packaging needs to be. A shipment within Europe and one crossing an ocean do not face the same handling risks.
Delivery times, worked out backwards
If the gift needs to arrive by a specific date, work the calculation backwards: the date of the occasion, minus the seller's stated delivery time, minus a few extra days for customs or postal delays. Shipments within the European Union tend to be faster and more predictable than intercontinental ones.
It is worth ordering several days ahead of the ideal date, especially if the destination is outside the European Union, where local customs procedures also come into play, and those do not depend on the seller.
Customs, if the destination is outside the European Union
Within the European Union, olive oil travels like any other food product, with no customs procedure for the person receiving it. Outside the European Union, it may be subject to duties or a customs hold, depending on the destination country's own rules, not on the Italian seller.
Before ordering, it is worth checking how food imports work in the recipient's country. A good online seller should state clearly whether they handle the customs paperwork themselves or whether it falls to the recipient.
Understanding what you are actually sending
Someone living abroad often has no reference point for judging Italian extra virgin olive oil: they may never have tasted a genuine one, or they confuse it with the generic bottle from the supermarket shelf. It is worth choosing an oil with a clear, verifiable origin, not just 'Italian' printed on the label: the Toscano PGI designation, for instance, is checked by an independent body and guarantees the olives are grown in Tuscany.
A card explaining where the oil comes from, how it was picked, and why it tastes the way it does, turns the gift into something the recipient understands and remembers, not just a good-looking bottle.
Where this oil actually comes from
Tenuta del Barone's extra virgin olive oil is Toscano PGI: grown, picked and milled in Tuscany, in Montemurlo, between Prato and Pistoia, about half an hour from Florence. The olives are only ours, hand-picked between October and November, and milled the same day, three minutes from the grove, below 27°C.
There are two oils from the same harvest: Luce, from early green olives, bitter and peppery, with a strong character that suits someone who already knows oil; and Raccolto, from riper November olives, rounder and more balanced, the better everyday choice for someone new to it. We ship from our website to Italy, the European Union and worldwide, and it arrives at the recipient's door.
Frequently asked questions
Can olive oil be shipped by air?
Yes, olive oil is routinely shipped by air in sealed, leak-proof containers, both commercially and by post. There are no special restrictions on olive oil as a non-perishable food item at room temperature.
How long does it take to ship olive oil abroad?
It depends on the destination country and the carrier used by the seller: usually a few days within the European Union, and one to two weeks for destinations outside Europe once customs is included. It is always worth asking for an estimated delivery time before ordering.
Does olive oil go bad if it gets hot during shipping?
Brief exposure to heat during transport does not significantly damage olive oil. The real issue is prolonged exposure to light or very high temperatures over weeks, which is exactly why olive oil is always stored in dark glass or tins.
Will the recipient have to pay customs duties on a gift of olive oil?
Possibly, depending on the destination country's own rules on food imports and gift allowances. It is worth telling the recipient in advance, so the surprise is the gift itself, not an unexpected customs bill.
Our oil, from tree to bottle
Two 100% Italian extra virgin olive oils from Tuscany, from a single hand-picked harvest, milled the same day three minutes from the grove. Luce is green, bitter and peppery; Raccolto is round, for every day. We ship across Italy, Europe and worldwide.
Luce — Toscano PGI extra virgin olive oil from Tuscany