When shopping you will find extra virgin olive oil, premium extra virgin, pure olive oil and light virgin oil (Photo: Shutterstock)

Olive oil, 'mafuta ya mizeituni' in Kiswahili, is oil pressed from the olive fruit. There are different types and grades, with different uses.

When shopping you will find extra virgin olive oil, premium extra virgin, pure olive oil and light virgin oil. The difference is with their fatty acid content.

For low heat cooking, like when sautéing, pure olive oil would be the one to use. For salads, especially vegetable salads or cold meat salads, extra virgin oil would be a good choice for a dressing. The distinct flavour will give your salad an amazing taste. Want to do some roasting and frying? Go with light virgin oil. It has a high smoke point, making it good oil for high heat recipes.

Olive oil lowers risk of heart disease, cancer and other conditions. Besides cooking, it can be used to loosen ear wax, repair cracked heels or as a shaving substitute. It can also nourish, detangle and condition hair, moisturise skin, soothe dry and chapped lips, remove eye makeup, clean and shine stainless steel ware and to dust and shine wood furniture.

It can cost as much as Sh2, 500 a litre in health shops and major supermarkets.

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