Best Supermarket Olive Oils Taste-Tested by a Food Editor
The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Why trust us? From an own-brand offering from Asda to a familiar kitchen staple, these are the bottles to buy. Emma Henderson, Food editor, Wednesday 15 April 2026 15:22 BST.
All the oils in this review are extra virgin olive oil, which is the highest quality available. As the rising price of olive oil edges the drizzling commodity ever closer to 'special occasion' status, choosing the right bottle has become increasingly tricky. These days, even a routine supermarket top-up can feel like a small investment, so which supermarket olive oil is truly worth buying? Are premium labels genuinely superior, or can supermarket own-brands deliver the same good mouthfeel and earthy flavour for less money?
Our Top Picks
- Best supermarket olive oil overall: Exceptional by Asda Greek koroneiki extra virgin olive oil – £7, Asda.com
- Best budget supermarket olive oil: Aldi Specially Selected P.D.O Castel Del Monte extra virgin olive oil – £6.29, Aldi.co.uk
- Best for bold flavour: Belazu early harvest extra virgin olive oil – £11, Ocado.com
- Best for everyday use: Filippo Berio organic extra virgin olive oil – £11, Ocado.com
- Best mild olive oil: Waitrose Duchy Organic Spanish extra virgin olive oil – £7, Waitrose.com
At the top of the hierarchy sits extra virgin olive oil, the benchmark for quality and the bottle most salad dressing shoppers reach for. Made by cold-pressing olives at low temperatures, it remains completely unrefined, preserving the flavour nuances that come from olive variety, region, and harvest conditions. Much like wine, those differences shape everything from aroma to bitterness, which is why one bottle might taste buttery and mellow while another finishes with a punchy, throat-catching pepperiness.
The draw of a good olive oil extends beyond flavour, too. EVOO is rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and antioxidant polyphenols, making it as nutritionally impressive as it is versatile in the kitchen. To find the best buys, I tasted my way through supermarket shelves, from Aldi and Asda to widely stocked household names, to uncover the bottles worth adding to your trolley.
How I Tested Supermarket Olive Oils
I tested 15 bottles of extra virgin olive oils from supermarkets over the course of a few weeks. I followed the traditional method of olive oil tasting – pouring the oil into a glass, warming it up with my hands, cupping my hand over the top, taking a big sniff, then a sip. Like wine, it's held at the front of the mouth, and then you suck air into your mouth so that the oil reaches the back of your mouth, too. I evaluated each oil based on criteria including aroma, flavour profile, texture, bread test, versatility, quality markers, and value for money.
Detailed Reviews of Top Picks
Exceptional by Asda Greek koroneiki extra virgin olive oil: Made using Greek koroneiki olives, this oil is fruity and slightly creamy with bitter and nutty notes. It's rich, balanced, and has just a hint of a rocket-like peppery finish. I was very impressed with the depth and intensity of flavour. It's great for finishing off a classic Greek salad thanks to its excellent flavour and slightly bitter taste that works well with green salads.
Aldi Specially Selected P.D.O Castel Del Monte extra virgin olive oil: Using olives grown in the Puglian region of Italy, this olive oil has PDO status. Its flavour is big and bold, with fruity and herbaceous aromas, slightly bitter and floral flavours, and a long peppery aftertaste. I found this to be best when drizzled over cold meats, offering good quality for a very affordable price.
Belazu early harvest extra virgin olive oil: Made from early-harvested arbequina olives, it harnesses the olive's best and most intense flavours. It has a very tomato-like aroma, is slightly bitter, and has a little floral sweetness to it, making it great for salads. This is an excellent and reliable name sold in many main supermarkets.
Filippo Berio organic extra virgin olive oil: Perhaps the most recognisable olive oil brand on the shelves, this version is made with a blend of organic olives from Italy, Spain, and Tunisia. It's grassy and herbaceous, with a slight bitterness and nutty notes coming through. I appreciate that it comes in a glass bottle, making it ideal for everyday use.
Waitrose Duchy Organic Spanish extra virgin olive oil: From the Duchy Organic range in Waitrose, this organic Spanish oil is very smooth and quite light in flavour. It's fresh, with a slight tomato aroma and floral notes, and has a tiny warming hint of pepperiness at the end. It's a great option for people who prefer a more mellow-flavoured oil.
Your Questions About Supermarket Olive Oils Answered
What is the best supermarket olive oil? After testing 15 different supermarket olive oils, I was impressed with Asda Extra Special Greek koroneiki extra virgin olive oil for its excellent, well-rounded flavour bursting with fruity notes, as well as having a slightly creamy taste and nutty notes. It has a real depth of flavour and is very affordable compared to other high-end extra virgin olive oils.
Should I cook with extra virgin olive oil? There's debate about this as extra virgin olive oil has a low smoking point. This doesn't mean you can't cook with it, but it's best to use sunflower oil for deep frying. EVOO’s low smoke point means that the fats in the oil start to break down at high temperatures and can cause the oil to burn. Some people prefer not to use it as an everyday cooking oil because of the high price point, but it's totally up to you.
Why You Can Trust IndyBest Reviews
Emma Henderson is a foodie. She was also the editor of IndyEats, The Independent’s monthly digital food magazine, and was twice shortlisted for 'best food magazine' at the Guild of Food Writers Awards. She’s sampled everything from Michelin-recommended menus to the best supermarket sourdough, so she knows what is worth the splurge. For this guide, she’s drizzled, dipped, and tasted her way through supermarket shelves with each bottle sniffed, sipped, and savoured – all in the name of journalism.
