Entimio Olive Oil: Reading the Certificate Behind the Bottle
If you have been looking at Entimio olive oil, you have probably already met the numbers: polyphenols above 800 mg/kg, acidity below 0.25%, a row of gold medals on the bottle shot. Most brands in this category stop at the bullet point. Entimio does something less common — it publishes an actual third-party certificate of analysis on the product page, with a named laboratory, a professor's signature, a certificate number and a date. That one document tells you more than any amount of packaging copy. This article reads it properly: what each line means, what it does and does not prove, and where marketing shorthand and laboratory measurement part company.
For our own oil, see our cold-pressed organic Marrakech olive oil.
The Short Answer
- Entimio is a Houston-based artisanal importer of Italian extra virgin olive oil, founded in 2017 by Daniel Santini, a Tuscan-born olive oil taster certified by ONAOO in Italy and by the Olive Oil Times Education Lab in the United States.
- Entimio publishes a per-lot certificate of analysis among its product images. The 2025–2026 Cortese certificate, issued by the World Olive Center for Health in Athens and signed by Associate Professor Prokopios Magiatis, reports total polyphenols of 856 mg/kg, free acidity of 0.14% and a peroxide value of 2.60 meq O2/kg.
- That is a genuinely unusual level of disclosure. Most brands publish a threshold — "above 800 mg/kg" — rather than the measured number behind it. Entimio publishes both.
- The certificate also names the cultivar (Frantoio), the region (Tuscany), the harvest month (October 2025), the mill (Mori-TEM) and the production date (28 October 2025).
- Entimio's oils are USDA certified organic and ship only within the 48 contiguous United States. There is no UK or EU route from the brand directly.
- Sidr & Stone does not publish a polyphenol figure for our own oil. We are not going to imply one by talking around it — where a brand does the testing and shows the paperwork, that is a real advantage and we will say so.
Who Entimio Is, and What It Actually Sells
Entimio is not an estate. It is a curator. The company commits in advance to buy a defined quantity of a producer's oil, but only if the finished product passes chemical and sensory testing — and it supplies the producers with bottling equipment so the oil is bottled at the estate rather than shipped in bulk and filled elsewhere.
Founder Daniel Santini was born and raised in Tuscany, holds a master's in aerospace engineering and an INSEAD MBA, and founded Entimio in 2017. He is a certified professional olive oil taster with ONAOO, Italy's National Organization of Olive Oil Tasters, and with the Olive Oil Times Education Lab in the United States. Named, verifiable sensory credentials on the founder are rare in this category and worth crediting.
The current range is four extra virgin oils — Italiano, Ardente, Cortese and Intenso — plus a Pasini collaboration bottling, a three-bottle gift collection, and two traditional Modena balsamic vinegars carrying DOP protection at twelve and twenty-five years of ageing. Everything is shipped from a temperature-controlled warehouse in Houston, Texas, to the 48 contiguous United States only.
The Certificate of Analysis: What the Cortese Lot Actually Measured
Among the product photographs on the Cortese listing sits a scanned certificate of analysis. It is issued by the World Olive Center for Health, Athens, certificate number C2526-00333, dated 19 November 2025, and signed by Associate Professor Prokopios Magiatis of the University of Athens Faculty of Pharmacy. Here is what it reports, set against the legal limits an oil must meet to be sold as extra virgin.
| Measure | Entimio Cortese 2025–2026 (certificate) | Extra virgin limit |
|---|---|---|
| Free acidity | 0.14% | ≤ 0.80% |
| Peroxide value | 2.60 meq O2/kg | ≤ 20.0 |
| K232 | 1.710 | ≤ 2.50 |
| K270 | 0.129 | ≤ 0.22 |
| ΔK | −0.0070 | ≤ 0.01 |
| Total polyphenols | 856 mg/kg | Not regulated |
| Total hydroxytyrosol derivatives | 395 mg/kg | Not regulated |
| Oleocanthal + oleacein (index D1) | 324 mg/kg | Not regulated |
Those limits are not Entimio's; they are the thresholds set by the International Olive Council trade standard and mirrored in EU law. Note how far inside them the oil sits. Acidity at 0.14% is roughly a fifth of the permitted ceiling, and a peroxide value of 2.60 is low enough to indicate an oil that had barely begun to oxidise when it was tested.
The certificate goes further than the legal panel, breaking the phenolic fraction into its parts — oleocanthal at 175 mg/kg, oleacein at 149, oleuropein and ligstroside aglycones in both monoaldehyde and dialdehyde forms, free tyrosol at 10. If you want the chemistry behind those names, our guide to olive oil polyphenols covers it in full.
Threshold Figures Versus Measured Figures
This is the distinction most olive oil marketing quietly blurs, and it is worth being precise about because Entimio sits on the right side of it.
A threshold figure is a floor the brand commits to: "polyphenols above 800 mg/kg". It tells you the oil is at least that good. It does not tell you what this particular pressing measured, and it cannot be falsified by anyone outside the company. A measured figure is the result of a specific test on a specific lot, published with the certificate that produced it. The Cortese listing carries the threshold — above 800 — and the certificate behind it reports 856. The two agree, and because both are published, you can check that they agree.
One honest wrinkle. Entimio's own Excellence page describes its house chemistry standard as polyphenols "in the 350–700 mg/kg range", while the current product listings quote thresholds of 500, 600, 800 and 1,000 mg/kg. The certificate is the more specific and more recent document, and it is the one we would read. Where a general page and a dated laboratory report disagree, the laboratory report is the one that was measured.
The Range, Cultivar by Cultivar
Entimio publishes cultivar and origin for each oil rather than describing everything as "Italian", which makes the range genuinely comparable. The figures below are the thresholds Entimio states on its own comparison table.
| Oil | Origin | Cultivars | Stated polyphenols | Stated acidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italiano | Italy | Frantoio, Moraiolo | > 500 mg/kg | < 0.25% |
| Ardente | Sicily | Nocellara, Cerasuola | > 600 mg/kg | < 0.25% |
| Cortese | Tuscany | Frantoio | > 800 mg/kg | < 0.25% |
| Intenso | Puglia | Coratina, Peranzana | > 1,000 mg/kg | < 0.25% |
The pattern is coherent rather than arbitrary. Coratina is one of the most phenol-rich cultivars grown anywhere, which is why Intenso carries the highest figure; our piece on Coratina olive oil explains why that variety behaves the way it does. Frantoio, the Tuscan backbone of Cortese, sits lower but brings the grassy, artichoke-and-almond character that Tuscan olive oil is known for.
Entimio also states that its oils are estate-bottled in dark UV-protective glass and sealed under food-grade nitrogen to limit oxidation, and that lots are held in temperature-controlled transport and storage. Those are real handling decisions with a measurable effect on how an oil ages, not decoration.
What the EU Polyphenol Claim Actually Requires
Because polyphenol numbers are the centre of Entimio's proposition, it is worth stating the one authorised European claim precisely, since it is very widely misquoted. Under Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012, the claim "olive oil polyphenols contribute to the protection of blood lipids from oxidative stress" may be used only for olive oil "which contains at least 5 mg of hydroxytyrosol and its derivatives (e.g. oleuropein complex and tyrosol) per 20 g of olive oil". The regulation adds a second condition: information must be given to the consumer that the beneficial effect is obtained with a daily intake of 20 g of olive oil.
Two things follow. First, the threshold is expressed per 20 grams of oil, which works out at 250 mg per kilogram — there is no "250 mg per litre" figure anywhere in the regulation, despite how often that phrasing circulates. Second, the measure is hydroxytyrosol and its derivatives, not total polyphenols. An oil can carry a healthy total polyphenol number and still fall short on the specific fraction the claim is written around.
This is where Entimio's certificate earns its keep: it reports total hydroxytyrosol derivatives separately, at 395 mg/kg for the Cortese lot. A buyer can check the condition against the document rather than take it on trust. For the wider category context, see our guide to high-phenolic olive oil.
The Honest Limits of a Certificate
A sceptical reader should push back on three points, and all three are fair.
A certificate covers one lot, not a brand. The Cortese document describes oil pressed on 28 October 2025 from an October 2025 harvest. Next season's oil is a different oil from a different crop year, and it needs its own certificate. This is a feature of honest per-lot testing rather than a flaw, but it means the number on the page has a shelf life — you should be checking that the certificate matches the harvest you are actually buying.
Polyphenols fall over time, and the certificate is a snapshot at bottling. Phenolic content declines with heat, light and age; a figure measured in November tells you about the oil in November. Entimio's nitrogen sealing, dark glass and temperature-controlled storage all slow that decline, which is precisely why those details matter, but no packaging stops it. Our article on how olive oil ages covers what actually happens in the bottle.
"Lab tested clean" is a summary, not a report. Entimio states that it runs comprehensive multi-residue analysis and that the oils are free from pesticides. We could not find the residue reports themselves published alongside the chemistry certificate. The organic certification is formal and independent; the residue statement, as published, rests on the company's own summary of a test rather than the test document.
Entimio and Sidr & Stone, Side by Side
We write about other brands to be useful, not to win on a technicality. On published chemistry, Entimio is ahead of us, and the table says so.
| What is published | Entimio | Sidr & Stone |
|---|---|---|
| Total polyphenols | 856 mg/kg (Cortese 2025–2026 certificate) | Not published |
| Free acidity | 0.14% (certificate) | Not published |
| Peroxide value | 2.60 meq O2/kg (certificate) | Not published |
| Named testing laboratory | World Olive Center for Health, Athens | Not published |
| Harvest date | October 2025; pressed 28 October 2025 | Single annual harvest; first pressing |
| Cultivars named | Yes, per oil | Not published |
| Organic status | USDA certified organic | Organically grown, not certified |
| Filtration | Filtered | Unfiltered |
| Single estate | No — curated from partner producers | Yes — one grove near Marrakech |
| Halal certified | Not stated | Yes |
| Ships to UK / EU | No — 48 US states only | Yes — UK, EU and US |
Read that honestly and it splits cleanly. If what you want is a documented phenolic figure from a named academic laboratory, Entimio publishes it and we do not. If what you want is a single-estate, rain-fed, unfiltered oil from one grove with one harvest, delivered in the UK or the EU, that is the gap we fill.
Why Sidr & Stone
Our own olive oil is a different proposition to a curated multi-region range, and we would rather describe it plainly than dress it up in numbers we have not measured.
- Single-estate — one family-owned grove on the plains outside Marrakech, Morocco, with no blending across origins.
- Rain-fed — no irrigation; the trees take what the season gives them.
- Organically grown — no synthetic fertilisers, pesticides or herbicides. We do not hold formal organic certification, and we do not describe ourselves as certified organic.
- Single harvest — a small, limited batch, picked only when the season says the fruit is ready, which can be weeks later than neighbouring farms.
- Cold-pressed within hours of harvest — minimising the gap between picking and pressing, which is where flavour and polyphenols are lost.
- Unfiltered extra virgin — minimally processed, and it may show natural sediment. That is normal.
- 100% natural — one ingredient, olive oil, nothing added.
- Dark glass with a gold label — protective packaging against light.
- Halal certified.
- 10% of profits to charity, across every Sidr & Stone product.
- Fulfilment in the UK, EU and US.
We will not tell you Sidr & Stone is the best olive oil — that would be exactly the kind of claim this article is arguing against. We will tell you that our oil is single-estate Moroccan, rain-fed, organically grown and cold-pressed within hours of harvest, that we do not currently publish a polyphenol figure, and that we would rather say so than let a vague phrase imply one.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Entimio olive oil?
Entimio is an artisanal Italian extra virgin olive oil brand founded in Texas in 2017 by Daniel Santini. It curates small lots from partner producers in Tuscany, Sicily and Puglia, has them bottled at the producer's estate, and ships them from a temperature-controlled warehouse in Houston.
Does Entimio publish lab results for its olive oil?
Yes. The product listings include a scanned certificate of analysis among the product images. The 2025–2026 Cortese certificate was issued by the World Olive Center for Health in Athens and reports free acidity, peroxide value, K-coefficients and a full phenolic breakdown.
How do I check whether an olive oil's polyphenol number is real?
Look for three things: a named laboratory, a date, and the specific lot or harvest the test covers. A figure stated on its own — with no certificate, no lab and no date — is a marketing threshold rather than a measurement. Our guide to choosing a quality olive oil walks through the full checklist.
Is a higher polyphenol number always better?
Not automatically. Higher phenolic oils taste more bitter and more peppery, which suits robust food and not everything else. The Entimio range is a good illustration: Intenso is stated above 1,000 mg/kg and pitched at grilled red meat, while the lower-phenol Italiano is positioned as the everyday all-rounder.
How does Entimio compare with Sidr & Stone?
Entimio publishes a per-lot certificate with a measured polyphenol figure from a named laboratory; we do not publish a polyphenol figure at all. Sidr & Stone's oil is single-estate, rain-fed, unfiltered and halal certified, from one grove near Marrakech, with fulfilment in the UK, EU and US.
Can you buy Entimio olive oil in the UK?
Not from Entimio directly. The company states that it ships throughout the 48 contiguous United States and the District of Columbia, and that it does not ship internationally.
What does "estate bottled" actually mean here?
It means the oil is bottled at the producer's own premises rather than shipped in bulk and filled elsewhere. Entimio supplies its producers with the bottles and bottling equipment and says it attends the bottling. Fewer transfers means less exposure to air, which is the main driver of early oxidation.
Is olive oil a medicine?
No. Olive oil is a food, not a medicine. It has a long traditional history — including being honoured in the Prophetic Sunnah — and a substantial body of modern research, particularly around polyphenols, cardiovascular health, and the Mediterranean diet pattern. It can be a worthwhile part of a healthy routine, but it does not cure diseases and is not a substitute for medical care. Be cautious of any olive oil marketed with specific disease-cure claims.
Final Thoughts
The reason Entimio is worth writing about is not the medals. It is that somebody put a signed laboratory document on a product page and let buyers read it. Acidity of 0.14%, a peroxide value of 2.60, K270 at 0.129, total polyphenols of 856 mg/kg with the hydroxytyrosol fraction broken out separately — that is a brand inviting you to check its work rather than asking you to trust a slogan.
It also sets a standard the rest of us are measured against, and we are not going to pretend otherwise. Sidr & Stone does not publish a polyphenol figure for our oil. We could gesture at "rich in antioxidants" and let you fill in a number, and we think that would be worse than saying nothing. When we have a figure that has been measured by an independent laboratory, we will publish it the way Entimio has — with the certificate attached.
What we can tell you today is verifiable in a different way. Our cold-pressed organic Marrakech olive oil comes from one family-owned grove, rain-fed, organically grown, picked in a single small harvest and pressed within hours — available to pre-order. First harvest, estimated shipping from November 2026. Fulfilment in the UK, EU, and US.
Pre-Order Sidr & Stone Organic Marrakech Olive Oil — Limited First Harvest →
Disclaimer: This article describes Entimio's publicly stated product information, certification and published certificate of analysis as of the date of writing; specifications, harvests and brand practices change, and readers should check current sources before purchase. Comparisons are made in good faith and in fair terms. Olive oil is a food, not a medicine, and is not a substitute for medical treatment of any condition. For any health concern, consult a qualified medical professional.