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Tuesday, January 21st
The Instagram community has fallen in love with Brightland Olive Oil, a California-made olive oil that rivals those from Spain, Italy, or Greece. Brightland makes a playful reference to their California-sourced products by claiming their olive oils will leave you in a "golden state," and their customers agree. Brightland has a beautiful website that is also very educational. The Brightland "Field Notes” blog is full of useful information for anyone who enjoys quality olive oils. They also offer add-ons to club member subscriptions.
Change your olive oil subscription at any time
Whether you want to add another flavor of olive oil or change your subscription entirely, Brightland makes it easy. Their subscription model is very modern and simple to modify. In case you run out early in the month, you can add another bottle, or you can change it from robust to mild in your account hub.
Subscribers receive free quarterly surprises
Once a quarter, Brightland will send subscribers a special surprise gift, like a sourdough starter or seeds for the garden. We love a free gift!
Curated "capsules” make for a wonderful gift
Brightland has curated different combinations of oils, vinegars, and honeys with what they call "capsules” and "sets." These packages include "The Salad Dressing Bundle” or "Pizza Night." These packages serve as excellent gifts or recurring subscriptions for weekly pizza nights or weekday salads at work. We love the attractive packaging, too. We agree with satisfied customers that they are pretty enough to display on the counter.
Website challenges
While the website is beautiful, subscribing to the oils is confusing. It took clicking on each product to discover that some oils and products aren't subscription-based. The FAQ stated that we could add the "Subscription” to our cart, but it didn't work. We could only click on each product to add subscriptions for that particular product. That means you should expect your "subscription” to cost at least $30 per delivery.
Gift-giving choices
While the digital gift cards at Brightland are really cute, these seem to be more geared toward a one-time gift rather than a subscription, although a subscription is possible. There is little information on how a subscription recipient would be able to update or change anything about their subscription. On the other hand, selecting "Corporate Gifts" took us to a page where we could conveniently ship to multiple recipients simultaneously or optionally send an "e-gift," allowing recipients to select items of similar price and customize their own package. However, this is a one-time gift, not a gift subscription.
Free shipping on everything
Not every olive oil or curated capsule is eligible for a subscription, but these one-time purchases are available to subscribers for free shipping at any time.
Field Notes take your knowledge up a notch
One of our favorite things about Brightland is their beautiful online presence. Their blog, "Field Notes,” is full of information, recipes, and eye candy that will definitely add to your experience. They even have a "Bookshelf” section recommending or reviewing different cookbooks.
Bitterness isn't always bad
While some criticize Brightland's olive oils' bitterness, they assert that this bitterness, a result of early-season harvest, signifies freshness and adds to their olive oils' distinctive "grassy" taste. Most reviewers actually liked the grassy notes, but if that isn't something you think you will like, it may be best to try a "mini” version before investing in the Brightland olive oil subscription, as all sales are final from Brightland.
No returns
Unlike other olive oil clubs, Brightland does not accept returns. All sales are considered final. And, unless the customer has purchased Carbon Offset + Shipping Protection, Brightland will not guarantee anything. The website provides a link to file a claim for those who have purchased the shipping protection. Those without shipping protection can contact Brightland via email to find a potential solution. Please note, however, that Brightland assumes no responsibility for the olive oil after shipment.
Instagram worthy, but...
We appreciate the social media presence, the attractive blog, the effortless subscription changes, and the benefits for subscribers. However, the return policy and the necessary shipping protection are definitely not a plus. This olive oil club is a riskier choice than others because of its price tag, especially when some customers have expressed dissatisfaction due to the excessively bitter flavor notes. It might be enjoyable to subscribe to the Salad Dressing Bundle or even a delicious vinegar and oil "capsule” as a monthly staple. It's worth checking out, and the packaging is so lovely that a curated Brightland olive oil combination would make an Instagram-worthy gift. See if Brightland olive oil is what you're searching for, but check out its higher-ranked rivals too.
To discover the huge difference in quality that fresh olive oil can make in your cooking, and even as a condiment, you can try an olive oil club. Olive oil clubs are a fantastic way to get a curated collection of the best olive oils in the country or on the planet, depending on the club you join.
These clubs source the most delicious varieties from all over the world. They do all the homework and deliver you the finest quality olive oils. Most of the clubs also believe in educating people about different olive oils and offer educational resources so you can gain experience to know how to curate olive oils for your own palate and cooking preferences. It can be a wonderful adventure - or a dependable way to have consistent, quality oils.
Be prepared for a shock. The excellent, fresh olive oils you will receive from any club will be a new experience. The fresher the olive oil is, the more you will taste a peppery, grassy flavor note in the back of your throat. Some clubs also infuse their oils with garlic, ginger, or lemon. One even offers bacon-infused olive oil - and best of all, any of these oils make lovely gifts.
How does an olive oil club work? Such subscriptions generally deliver monthly, though some clubs offer deliveries every 2, 3, 4, or 6 months. They will source the olive oil, select delicious options, and ship it to you. You choose how often you want to receive it. It's that simple.
Once you find the right club, you only need to choose how much olive oil you want delivered, where you'd like it to come from, whether or not it's a gift for someone else, and how often you want it delivered.
It's pretty easy to find a club that is the perfect fit - whether you are treating yourself or a friend. There are clubs for those who want to buy with sustainability in mind, clubs for the adventurous palates, clubs for the discerning at-home chef, and more.
With all the olive oil clubs available, how do you know which club to choose? Here are some things to think about as you decide:
Olive oil clubs are plentiful, so Top Consumer Reviews has ranked today's most popular subscriptions to help you choose. Buon Appetito!
Select any 2 Olive Oil Clubs to compare them head to head