Evoolution

About two years ago a colleague told me about this amazing oil and vinegar place downtown (just a few locks from my office). I have been to Evoolution several times now and have raved about them so much, I have been gifted their products. I have also taken family there and there are smaller gift sets available that made it through security.
The flavours are unique and well balanced. You can taste it when you add it to your food, but neither the oil nor the vinegar are overpowering. I use both the oils and vinegars for cooking and salads/​dips. I am a fan of the spicy options.
The staff are knowledgeable and helpful, but don’t hound you. If you have a specific intention or occasion, they can make great recommendations, You can also taste the options before making a decision so you know if it is something that will work for your own pallet. I was surprised how long the bottles have lasted, because you don’t need a lot to influence the flavour of your food. It may look pricey compared to your supermarket options, but I can assure you that it is well worth it.
I definitely recommend going here — for yourself, or if you’re looking for a gift for someone who has everything.

I have always loved this store so much to the point that I have considered working here! This location is my favorite. I love the layout of the store and the rustic simplicity. All of the oils and vinegars are in large canisters that are well labelled and include great descriptions of the flavours, pairings and the area that they come from. These descriptions are also on a sheet of paper for you to take if you are interested. The great thing about this place is that you get to sample the product before buying it. Tiny cups are there to mix and match the oil and vinegar from the canisters. The bottles to purchase are located under the canisters in various sizes. To top it off, you get pieces of bread to dip and taste. You can easily fill up on this delicious product just from sampling it! They also offer an array of seasonings and flavoured salts that you can also taste test.
Feeling a little intimidated by the whole process? Don’t be. The staff are wonderful and friendly and are readily available to explain the process to you. They are also very knowledgeable in their products and I would say are oil and vinegar connoisseurs of sorts.
My new favorite is the butter flavoured infused olive oil over popcorn finished off with truffle salt. Yum!

I love Evoolution. It is well stocked, and the olive oils and vinegars are delicious, and very high quality. For the past 3 years I have been washing out and reusing the same bottles, and I have probably reused the same 2 bottles about 9 times each. Last time I was there however, I was told that I could no longer do this due to new Health Canada regulations. This made me very upset, because a big part of the reason I have been shopping there so often, is because I can reduce my glass footprint by reusing. I have written to Health Canada, and said that this is a bullshit rule. I would like to know if this is true, or if it was a misinformed, new employee?

I’ve had nothing but amazing service from this location. Staff is so friendly and helpful, and very patient. They answer all my questions and offer suggestions when I’m not sure what I want. I’ve bought gifts for weddings and bridal showers here and they wrap is up with beautiful ribbon for you. Love their products! I’m always a return visitor :)

Such a great selection of high end infused Extra Virgin Olive Oil and balsamic vinegars. Their selection varies but they keep the best selling flavours available.
This was my first time in the store so we bought the 6 mini bottle variety pack. You can mix and match any 6 of the oils or vinegars and there is some added costs for their high end oils (ie. Black or white truffle). The 6 pack is $ 36 without the higher end stuff.
I really like that you can sample every single one of the oils cuz although the names can sound enticing in the end your taste buds make the final call. Some of the oils were quite bitter and some of the vinegars were too tart or sweet. Take your time to sample everything before buying.
They also allow you to bring back Evoolution bottles that have been cleaned for refills and you’ll save $ 2 as well as doing your part to save the planet.

Peckish on 104? Go to Evoolution! (just kidding… sort of).
Seriously, you can sample all of their oils and vinegars by pouring it into a little taster cup and dipping in a piece of bread that they have all around in little glass jars.
Except for giant bottles of olive oil that I keep on hand from Costco, not a single oil/​vinegar in my apartment is NOT from Evoolution — they’re all just so good! And very reasonably priced.
My favourite? The Dark Cherry Balsamic and the 12 Year Aged Balsamic. I also love the Garlic Olive Oil.

What is there to say about such perfection as Dark Chocolate Balsamic Vinegar?
Before discovering Evoolution, I had no idea how a simple oil or flavoured vinegar could change even the most simple of foods into a masterpiece of culinary delight.
You can sample all the different flavours and try them out for yourself right there in the store. Of course, there is nothing like taking one home and trying out on some balsamic vinegar on some fresh fruit or an herbed oil on some prime steak.
The service was excellent and very helpful and knowledgeable.

Oh my gosh, I am so in love with this place. A friend recommended it to me, but she was talking about some place on the south side, and then I was walking downtown & walked right past this place & had to check it out :) And now I’m both glad I did cos it’s awesome, though my wallet will be a little lighter after moving up an olive oil bracket or two: P Haha.
But yeah, the staff here are really great– I’ve met a few over the few times I’ve been in here, and they’re always friendly & knowledgeable, and willing to give suggestions on how to pair things & whatnot. They sell olive oil & balsamic vinegar, and have these little kegs of the products all over the store so you can try them– they also give you little bits of bread to dip in the oil or vinegar.
I have to admit, the first time I came in here, I spent over half an hour trying everything & trying to decide what to buy: P I ended up getting a 6-​pack of mini bottles– I got the blood orange, basil, & dill olive oils, and got 3 balsamic vinegars– lemongrass & mint, cranberry pear, and blackberry ginger. Everything tastes awesome, and I’ve basically replaced all my salad dressing with various combinations of these things: P Also I bought a big bottle of dill olive oil to better feed my addiction to pickle-​flavoured popcorn (I use it instead of butter, and it’s awesome). And I got this cool spout thing that looks all neat & steam-​punky, and it helps me control how much I pour: P
So yeah, in summary, this place is awesome & everyone should go here :)

I first visited the Evoolution store downtown on 104 Street. We actually went there on a tasting night and were introduced to the awesome selection of olive oils and vinegars they have. It was great to learn the process involved in the creation of their products and I enjoyed sampling their items and pairing them with food and drink. If you get a chance to attend one of these nights I highly recommend it!
I was quite happy to hear that they were opening a store in Southgate Mall, as that is in my hood! I hate malls but when there is a store worth going in for then it makes it worthwhile.
The Southgate store seems to be a bit of a scaled down version of their 104 St. store but they do have a lot of selection on hand. They have some bread and tasting cups for you to sample before you buy. They also have a lot of stock of other creative culinary treats like Vegan Coconut Bacon from a local food truck, fancy salts and seasonings, kitchen doo-​dads, books, and more.
If you haven’t tried any specialty oils and vinegars then you ought to do so! This is the perfect place to do it as well and don’t be afraid to ask the helpful staff for a tour or assistance.
Pro Tip: Buy some White Truffle Olive Oil and add it to your butter that you put on your air-​popped popcorn. Your popcorn and home-​movie experience will never be the same!

If I had to pick just one local shop in Edmonton that had to my favorite, this would be it! I don’t even want to know how much I’ve spent here in the last year, but I wouldn’t regret it anyway!
There are 2 locations… Southgate and 104^st. I always go to the 104^st location. At both locations you can sample all the oils and vinegars, read the cards to see what mixes well, and get great ideas to try at home.
Some of favorite oils are the butter infused EVOO, which i use on my eggs in the morning, and on popcorn. Another fave is the dill infused oil. It’s great on oven roasted carrots, and honestly makes simple microwaved potatoes taste amazing. The garlic oil is definitely what I use most often. I use it to marinade meat and also on vegetables. I also use it when I make garlic butter. The maple balsamic is terrific on salmon. Raspberry balsamic with the mandarin orange olive oil is yummy on salad (if you like salad, which I don’t).
Alright, that’s enough. If your mouth isn’t watering, I can’t help you.

Ran into this location super quick to grab a $ 50 ready-​made cedar gift box as a christmas present for my foodie grandparents.
I would have looooved to have stayed and lingered and tasted everything (it smelled so amazing as always), but I had my 2 little destructors (2 and 5 years old) with me and so had to zip in and out.
The woman who helped me was quick and efficient and I now have a lovely gift.
I’ve tried the red apple vinegar before as a bread dip and as a pork glaze — amazingly delicious and it’s just plain less expensive than it tastes/​looks/​feels in there.

Everything seems to come in thirds for me. Twice, I was in the area and stopped to see if Evoolution was open. Twice I was denied entry and had to resort to peering through the window (ja you’s a window shopper). If you get the reference, we should most definitely be friends.
Anyways, third time was the charm (although we made it with only half an hour to spare). We walked in and were greeted by a super friendly, easygoing evoo worker. Seriously, so nice — she explained a few things, made a few recommendations based on what I was looking for and then let us go to town on the sampling. I tasted a reasonable amount (reasonable being a loose term) of olive oil and balsamic vinaigrettes. A few that stood out for me: Tuscan herb, garlic, and the cranberry pear balsamic. So good. They come in three sizes (200ml — $ 13, 375ml — $ 19 and 750ml — $ 31).
I ended up picking up a Tuscan herb evoo bottle ($ 19) and tried it in a salad dressing I made. Awesome! Very cool, chic spot — hit it up if you are looking for something to spruce up your salads/​chicken/​dinners! They even have these little 6 bottle samples ($ 36) that would be a great gift.

This place is so fun! It is a great experience just to go around and try all of the oils. You will be amazed with some of the creations they have made. This store will make you an instant chef. The black truffle salt is to die for, and makes a great gift for anyone. I’m yet to meet anyone who doesn’t like it. I also recommend the lavender balsamic vinegar. Must stop in Edmonton, especially if you are going to the city 104 market.

I LOVE IT HERE.
First off I need to commend the staff, they are SO patient and knowledgable and will let you sample as much as you want until you’ve tried every combination possible. They answer all of your questions, they offer suggestions and tips and they just remain so friendly, laid back and helpful I can’t believe it. Kudos to the staff!
I like to think I know my way around a kitchen and love to try new things. These flavoured oils are a great way of introducing new flavours into old favourites (and they take popcorn to a whole other level!). I always have the truffle oil on hand no matter what and a few other small ones on the go. There’s not enough hours in the day for me to use all of the flavours I want… Evoolution fan for life :)

I have been a fan of Evoolution since it opened a few years back. I knew that they offered an extensive selection of top-​notch oils, vinegars, and spices. My kitchen counter is lined with several bottles from this amazing store. But I hadn’t fully realized just how exceptional Evoolution is until I recently attended a private tasting with my ladies night out group (Yes! They do private tastings!). I learned so much about olive oils and balsamic vinegars. And i learned how to taste for quality. The good folks at Evoolution really know their trade, and they are willing to share their knowledge and passion with their customers.
My favourite Evoolution goodies are the wild mushroom and sage (evoo), Tuscan herb (evoo), organic basil (evoo), roasted onion and cilantro (evoo), maple (balsamic), coconut (balsamic), fig (balsamic), and chocolate (balsamic). But really, all of their oils and vinegars are outstanding — just find what suits your taste.
I am running low on maple vinegar. I will need to make another trip back there soon. if that vinegar is the key to getting my two-​year-​old to ask for second helpings of a roasted beet and raw kale salad, I don’t want to run out.

Garlic olive oil. White truffle oil. Aged, deeply-​flavoured balsamics. Enough said.
There’s nothing I don’t like about this store. The products they offer are of an amazing quality and the service is friendly and helpful. They offer bread for tasting, so that you can try the oils and balsamics straight from the vat.
I’m a firm believer in cooking with olive oil rather than Pam, margarine, or canola oil. Try cooking with a gourmet olive oil from Evoolution and you’ll never buy a can of Pam again!
They also have amazing baskets that are perfect as gifts for any time of the year.
If you’ve never visited this store, do yourself a favour and check it out!

I’m not sure I can add anything to all the rave reviews posted, but I want to give credit where credit is due!
This specialty store in Edmonton, at the risk of sounding redundant/​ridiculous, is really quite special. The owners provide a unique product and a unique experience on beautiful 104^th St. It’s a gorgeous space with metal ‘kegs’ of oils and vinegars of all types which are sold in a variety of sizes. And you’re welcome to try any or all of the amazing imported olive oils and vinegars with fresh cubes of bread. They also carry different salts, serving dishes, carefully crafted gift packages, and literally much much more!
The staff is quick to provide information, suggestions, and pairing ideas, but are also quite ready to leave you be to savour all the products/​carbs.
I’ve always had a great experience in this welcoming environment. I highly recommend it!

After my less than pleasant Vinegar tasting in Kelowna I didn’t think I’d ever be up for it again. I wished to make a coconut lime salad dressing with olive oil and vinegar and I heard that Evoolution was just the place to go! I wandered in here one Saturday after the market and fell in love. There were so many different types of oils and vinegars that you can taste and they honestly don’t taste like typical vinegar. The coconut vinegar has to be my favorite, it’s so smooth and has perfectly infused flavor. To compliment it of course they had lime olive oil — my salad dreams were coming true. We sampled numerous other types of olive oil and vinegar and I can honestly say I will be indulging in this place much more frequently, grocery store oils just don’t cut it. Okay, I’m totally turning in to a cooking snob but whatever.
I was glad to see you could purchase different sizes of the oils and the adorable set of 6 would make a perfect gift! As I was wandering around I stumbled across Truffle Oil! If you know me you will also know that I’m hopelessly addicted to that stuff. I want to put it on everything, popcorn, pasta… you name it. I had to indulge in a bottle even though it set me back $ 13 it was totally worth it as I feel like my quality of life has drastically improved. Funny that a teaspoon of oil on my pasta can do this! Evoolution is lovely and it’s definitely made it onto my list of favorite places in Edmonton. It’s a must go to and must buy for gifts: housewarmings, birthdays, stocking stuffers — this place is perfect!

Evoolution does two thing right: olive oil and real, authentic vinegar. I haven’t ventured too much outside of this area but I hear their speciality salts, pastas etc. are also of stellar quality. Come here with an open mind, try their different olive oils from the mild to the robust. Literally take olive oil shots and see what best suits your palate. Olive oil is something everyone enjoys and while I may not use this fancy olive oil in everyday cooking, I like to spoil myself if I’m making pasta from scratch or if I want I want to treat the fancy bread I’ve baked with love. Let’s be honest here, this place is ultra high end in terms of price, but it is totally worth it in my opinion.
Firstly, they have a series of 8 – 10 pure olive oils. The natural, fruity flavor of the olive oil is basically determined by the region, type of olive etc. My favorite is the Leccio which is robust in intensity and comes from Chile. When you venture into the flavored olive oil arena, be prepared to be blown away. So many interesting creations from cilantro and green onion to sage and wild mushroom (my absolute favorite). They even have a popcorn butter flavored olive oil (say what? I can eat butter and improve my heart health??).
Then come the crazy balsamic vinegars. What a list we have there! White and dark vinegars from various parts of the world, made in a traditional Italian style. The mission fig balsamic vinegar is my favorite dark one while, the alphoos mango balsamic is my favorite white vinegar.
If you are like me and like to spend money on food — you will love this place. If you’re not in a position to spend that much but are still curious, come and give the oils and vinegars a try. The helpful staff will blow you off your feet.

Evoolution is a tasting bar that features various olive oils and vinegars, as well as salts and other spices. You are encouraged to try everything in store, and combine different flavors to your heart’s content!
There’s something for everyone here. Evoolution offers both «plain» and flavor infused oils and vinegars, and the staff are great at giving recommendations. I’m sure anyone could find something to suit their particular tastes. I’ve been searching for a balanced and delicious dark balsamic vinegar for a while, and I finally found it here! Since I got to try everything, there was no guesswork. I don’t know about you, but when I’m at the grocery store and have 20 different bottles of balsamic in front of me, I have no idea which one I’ll like the most, or if I’ll even like them at all!
For the majority of the oils /​vinegars, there are three sizes available for purchase. I believe the sizes were 200 mL, 375 mL, and 750 mL, but don’t quote me on that. I bought two 750 mL bottles and my bill came out to just under $ 60, so the prices are quite fair.
Overall, this place is amazing! I’ll definitely be back in the future — I’m telling all of my friends and family about it!