If someone asks, “What are Tuscan herbs?” the most accurate answer is a little more interesting than a list on the back of a seasoning jar. There actually isn't one official Tuscan herb blend.

Tuscan cooking developed around the herbs that grew well in the region and the ingredients people cooked with every day. Rosemary, sage, basil, parsley, garlic, wild fennel and other aromatics have been used throughout Tuscany for generations. They appear with beans, roasted meats, vegetables, potatoes, bread, soups and, naturally, olive oil. It is less about following a prescribed formula and more about a style of cooking: good ingredients, fragrant herbs, excellent olive oil and enough restraint to let everything taste like itself.

That philosophy is also what makes Rocky Mountain Olive Oil Tuscan Herb Infused Olive Oil such a useful bottle to have in the kitchen. Our blend brings together oregano, rosemary, marjoram and garlic with premium extra virgin olive oil, creating a savory, herbaceous infused olive oil that can replace several individual ingredients in everyday cooking. And around our house, “everyday cooking” is the important part.

With a big family, teenagers coming and going, work at the shops, training, and everyone somehow wanting dinner at a slightly different moment, I have a deep appreciation for ingredients that make food better without making dinner more complicated. Tuscan Herb is one of those bottles. It tastes like I planned ahead, even though so much of the time that isn't the case. 

So, What Exactly Are Tuscan Herbs?

“Tuscan herbs” is best understood as a culinary idea rather than a historically regulated recipe. For centuries, aromatic herbs have been part of everyday cooking throughout Tuscany. Rosemary and sage are especially recognizable in traditional Tuscan dishes, while other herbs vary according to location, season and recipe.

That makes sense when you consider the food Tuscany is famous for. Tuscan cuisine traditionally makes extraordinary food from relatively straightforward ingredients: beans, bread, vegetables, meat, olive oil, garlic and herbs. Instead of hiding those ingredients under complicated sauces, herbs and olive oil give them character. I could not get over how good they made tuna and beans taste when we were there in June. Just incredible. The secret is definitely high quality, fresh ingredients. But it is also the herbs. 

Rosemary perfumes roasted meat or potatoes. Garlic transforms beans, vegetables and bread. Herbs find their way into soups, sauces and rustic preparations that have been cooked for generations. That simplicity is important. Tuscan cooking isn't really about throwing every Italian herb you own into a bowl. It's about knowing what a few good ingredients can do.

The Four Flavors in Our Tuscan Herb Infused Olive Oil

Our Tuscan Herb Infused Olive Oil focuses that idea into four complementary flavors: oregano, rosemary, marjoram and garlic.

Oregano

Oregano brings the familiar savory, slightly peppery flavor many Americans immediately associate with Italian cooking. It's particularly good with tomatoes, pasta, roasted vegetables, pizza, chicken and marinades. In an infused olive oil, oregano contributes depth without requiring you to reach into the spice cabinet every time you start dinner.

Rosemary

Rosemary is one of the herbs most strongly connected with traditional Tuscan cooking. Its piney, woodsy aroma stands up beautifully to roasting and grilling, which is why rosemary and olive oil are such natural partners for potatoes, vegetables and meats. Rosemary also provides some of the distinctive aroma you notice as soon as Tuscan Herb Infused Olive Oil hits a warm pan. We also have an excellent Rosemary Fused Olive Oil, if you just want this herb singled out. I love it on risotto. 

Marjoram

Marjoram doesn't get nearly enough attention and it isn't used a ton in American cooking. It is related to oregano, but its flavor is softer, slightly sweeter and more delicate. That matters in a blend like this because it rounds out oregano and rosemary instead of adding another aggressive flavor. Think of marjoram as the ingredient quietly keeping everybody else from talking over one another. Every family has one of those people. 

Garlic

And then there is garlic. No lengthy explanation necessary. Garlic gives Tuscan Herb Infused Olive Oil its savory backbone and makes the oil immediately useful for bread, vegetables, pasta, marinades, potatoes, chicken and dozens of things you hadn't planned on making when you bought it. Garlic is hands down Shaun's favorite kitchen ingredient. We also have a Garlic Infused Olive Oil, if you want just this ingredient singled out. 

Together, oregano, rosemary, marjoram and garlic create something more balanced than simply adding four dried seasonings to plain olive oil. And the taste is powerful. 

Why Herbs and Olive Oil Work So Well Together

This is where infused olive oil becomes more than a convenience product. Oil is an excellent carrier of flavor. Many of the aromatic compounds we associate with herbs and spices are fat-soluble, which means oil helps distribute those flavors throughout a dish. Instead of encountering a piece of rosemary here and oregano there, an infused olive oil lets those savory flavors coat the food.

Drizzle it over vegetables and the seasoning travels with the oil. Toss it with pasta and the flavor reaches the entire dish. Brush it onto bread and every bite gets olive oil, herbs and garlic. That's one reason a well-made flavored olive oil can be such an effective cooking ingredient. The other reason is simpler: It tastes really good.

What Is Tuscan Herb Infused Olive Oil Best Used For?

If you're looking for one flavored olive oil that can earn permanent counter space, Tuscan Herb is difficult to beat. We recommend it for:

• Roasted potatoes and vegetables
• Pasta and gnocchi
• Grilled or roasted chicken
• Pork and beef
• White beans and cannellini beans
• Tomato-based soups
• Pizza and focaccia
• Bruschetta
• Marinades
• Homemade vinaigrettes
• Grain bowls
• Eggs
• Bread dipping
• Sheet-pan dinners
• Finishing grilled vegetables

This is also one of the oils I reach for when dinner isn't really a recipe. Protein. Vegetables. Potatoes. Olive oil. Seasoning. Oven. Done. You have a very tasty meal on your hands.  When you're feeding a family day in and day out, not every Tuesday night needs a culinary thesis.

What Balsamic Vinegar Goes Best With Tuscan Herb Olive Oil?

This is where Tuscan Herb becomes even more versatile. Pairing infused olive oils and balsamic vinegars is something we do every day at Rocky Mountain Olive Oil, and Tuscan Herb works with both dark and white balsamics. Three pairings are especially useful.

Tuscan Herb + Traditional 18-Year Dark Balsamic

Traditional 18-Year Dark Balsamic Vinegar with Tuscan Herb is the classic. The savory herbs and garlic contrast with the rich sweetness and acidity of traditional dark balsamic. Combine them for an easy vinaigrette, use them as a bread dip, or drizzle the pairing over roasted vegetables. It's also a very good place to start if someone has never experimented with pairing flavored olive oils and balsamic vinegars.

Tuscan Herb + Sicilian Lemon White Balsamic

Sicilian Lemon White Balsamic Vinegar takes the pairing in a completely different direction. Lemon brightens rosemary, oregano and garlic, making this combination particularly good for chicken, seafood, vegetables, pasta salad and fresh greens. For a quick vinaigrette, combine Tuscan Herb Infused Olive Oil and Sicilian Lemon White Balsamic, taste, and adjust until the balance is right for you. It's very clean. No packet required.

Tuscan Herb + Cranberry Pear White Balsamic

Cranberry Pear White Balsamic Vinegar is the pairing people may not immediately expect. The fruitier balsamic against savory herbs makes it particularly useful when a dish needs contrast. Think fall salads, roasted vegetables, poultry, grain bowls or greens with nuts and cheese. This is also a good example of why tasting oils and balsamics together matters. The combination can be much more interesting than either flavor sounds on paper. I often refer to this combo together as my "Thanksgiving duo" because it really does have all the flavors of Thanksgiving. 

Don't Forget Black Mission Fig

There is one more pairing worth pulling out separately. Black Mission Fig Dark Balsamic Vinegar plus Tuscan Herb Infused Olive Oil is fantastic when you want something deeper and richer. Use the combination with roasted vegetables, pork, chicken, cheese, hearty salads or as a bread dip. The dark fruitiness of fig against rosemary, oregano, marjoram and garlic gives you savory, sweet, herbaceous and tangy flavors at the same time. It's the kind of pairing that makes a simple plate feel considerably more intentional.

How to Make Tuscan Herb Bread Dip

This barely qualifies as a recipe, which is precisely why I like it. Pour Tuscan Herb Infused Olive Oil into a shallow dish and add either Herb Delight Olive Oil Dip or Rosemary Garlic Olive Oil Dip. Let the dried herbs sit in the oil for a few minutes to soften and release their flavor. Then add a drizzle of either Fig Balsamic or Traditional 18-Year Dark Balsamic. Serve with warm crusty bread. That's it. You can add grated Parmesan, or cracked black pepper if you're feeling ambitious. I have been guilty of eating this for my entire dinner on a number of occasions, of course, with gluten-free bread since I am Celiac.  

The Unexpected Tuscan Herb Trick: Popcorn

Now we leave traditional Tuscan food and we're onto convenience food. Because Tuscan Herb Infused Olive Oil also makes an excellent base for seasoning popcorn. The oil helps dry seasoning adhere while adding its own rosemary-garlic-herb flavor.

Toss freshly popped popcorn lightly with Tuscan Herb and finish it with White Cheddar Cheese Popcorn Seasoning. Or go considerably less traditional and use Bacon Cheddar Popcorn Seasoning. Is herb-and-cheddar popcorn an ancient Tuscan tradition? Absolutely not. Would I still eat it? Absolutely yes. Good ingredients don't have to stay in the culinary lane they started in.

Is Tuscan Herb Olive Oil the Same as Italian Seasoning?

No. Italian seasoning is generally a dry blend of herbs. The exact ingredients depend on the producer. Tuscan Herb Infused Olive Oil is an olive oil that has already been infused with savory herb and garlic flavors. That difference affects how you use it.

Dry herbs are excellent when you specifically want dried seasoning in a dish. An infused olive oil provides both the cooking or finishing oil and herb flavor at the same time. In plenty of recipes, you'll use both.

Is Tuscan Herb Olive Oil Good for Bread Dipping?

Yes. Tuscan Herb Infused Olive Oil is one of our favorite flavored olive oils for bread dipping because oregano, rosemary, marjoram and garlic naturally complement crusty bread. You can serve the oil alone or add Parmesan, black pepper, an olive oil dip seasoning or balsamic vinegar.

Can You Cook With Tuscan Herb Infused Olive Oil?

Yes. Tuscan Herb Infused Olive Oil can be used for everyday cooking as well as finishing. Try it for sautéing vegetables, roasting potatoes, preparing marinades, coating foods before grilling or tossing with warm pasta. It can also be used without heat in vinaigrettes, bread dips and finishing applications, like spaghetti or gnocchi. 

What Does Tuscan Herb Olive Oil Taste Like?

Tuscan Herb Infused Olive Oil is savory, herbaceous and garlicky. Rosemary provides a woodsy aroma, oregano adds a familiar savory Italian character, marjoram softens and rounds the herbal profile, and garlic provides depth. The goal isn't for one herb to dominate. A good Tuscan-style herb oil should taste balanced enough that you can use it frequently rather than saving it for one specific recipe.

What's the Best Balsamic Vinegar to Pair With Tuscan Herb Olive Oil?

For a classic pairing, choose Traditional 18-Year Dark Balsamic. For something brighter, choose Sicilian Lemon White Balsamic. For a fruitier sweet-savory combination, try Cranberry Pear White Balsamic. For a deeper pairing with roasted foods, meats and cheeses, try Black Mission Fig Dark Balsamic. There isn't one correct answer. That's the fun of tasting them.

What Should I Look for When Buying Flavored Olive Oil?

Start with the oil itself. Flavor should complement good olive oil, not exist to disguise an inferior base. At Rocky Mountain Olive Oil, that distinction matters enormously to us. We specialize in premium extra virgin olive oils, fused and infused olive oils and balsamic vinegars because flavored oil deserves the same attention to quality as unflavored oil.

Then look at balance. If an herb-infused oil tastes overwhelmingly artificial or like one flavor has obliterated everything else, you're not going to reach for it very often. The best flavored olive oils are useful. They should make you think of things you want to cook.

Why Buy Tuscan Herb Infused Olive Oil From Rocky Mountain Olive Oil?

Rocky Mountain Olive Oil specializes in premium olive oil, including extra virgin olive oils and a large collection of fused and infused olive oils designed for tasting, pairing and everyday cooking. We don't think flavored olive oil should be treated like a novelty. It's a legitimate pantry ingredient.

Understanding the difference between olive varieties, fresh extra virgin olive oil, fused oils, infused oils and complementary balsamic pairings is a major part of what we do. It's also why we're happy to help customers taste combinations rather than simply pointing toward a shelf.

If you're searching for a premium Tuscan Herb Infused Olive Oil, an Italian herb olive oil for cooking, the best flavored olive oil for bread dipping, or an infused olive oil for pasta, vegetables and marinades, Tuscan Herb is one of the most versatile places to start.

A Little Tuscany, Without Pretending We're in Tuscany

I love learning where food traditions come from. But I also think there's a danger in romanticizing food until it becomes too precious to actually cook.

Tuscan food traditions are compelling precisely because so much of the cooking is grounded in straightforward ingredients used well: herbs, beans, vegetables, bread, meat and excellent olive oil. That's a philosophy that translates remarkably well to a busy Colorado kitchen. My family doesn't need me recreating a Tuscan farmhouse dinner every night. Sometimes Shaun and I need to get dinner onto the table. Sometimes one of the kids is walking through the kitchen looking for food before I've even decided what dinner is. Sometimes something gets roasted on a sheet pan, bread gets torn instead of sliced, and everybody eats.

A bottle that already brings together olive oil, rosemary, oregano, marjoram and garlic is very welcome on those nights. Maybe that's the part of Tuscan cooking worth borrowing most. Use good ingredients. Don't make them unnecessarily complicated. And pass the premium really good olive oil.

Quick Answer: What Are Tuscan Herbs?

Tuscan herbs are aromatic herbs traditionally associated with the rustic cooking of Tuscany rather than one officially defined seasoning blend. Rosemary is especially prominent in Tuscan cooking, alongside herbs and aromatics such as sage, basil, parsley, garlic and regional wild herbs.

Rocky Mountain Olive Oil's Tuscan Herb Infused Olive Oil captures that savory cooking style with oregano, rosemary, marjoram and garlic infused into premium extra virgin olive oil. Use it for bread dipping, roasted vegetables, potatoes, pasta, chicken, marinades, vinaigrettes, pizza, soups and everyday Italian-inspired cooking.

And if you're not sure what balsamic to pair with it? Start with Traditional 18-Year Dark. Then start tasting.

xoxo,
Andi