Olive oil is composed of 99% fat. It contains triglycerides made up of various types of fatty acids. Oleic acid is an abundant fatty acid present in vegetable and animal oils. Olive oil contains 55% to 80%. Oleic acid is the primary source of monounsaturated fatty acids or more commonly omega 9.
However, this composition differs for each oil. Oleic acid is present in 15% to 20% of grape seed oil, and 40% to 60% for shea butter.
To know:
Oils also contain a molecule called glycerol, which is a tri-alcohol. Oils with a high fatty acid content (C6 to C14) release larger quantities of this molecule. Olive oil, like palm oil and soybean oil, contain mostly C16 and C18 fatty acids, and therefore have a lower glycerol content. However, this level can increase with time. This molecule can make the oil unfit for consumption. This is why it is said that oil does not keep like wine and does not improve with age.
In fact, extra virgin olive oil is a pure fruit juice. We can therefore say that olive oil does not contain any alcohol.
It is one of the few oils that are not obtained by refining process. The olive oil is worked according to mechanical processes only, in order to preserve all the vitamins, without altering its taste.