With olive oil prices rising, choosing the right bottle has become a small investment. A food editor taste-tested 15 extra virgin olive oils from major supermarkets to find which ones deliver quality flavour without breaking the bank.
Extra virgin olive oil, made by cold-pressing olives at low temperatures, retains flavour nuances from olive variety, region and harvest conditions. It is rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and antioxidant polyphenols, making it both nutritious and versatile.
Top picks include a Greek koroneiki olive oil from a supermarket brand, described as fruity, slightly creamy, with bitter and nutty notes and a peppery finish. Another standout is an Aldi Specially Selected oil from Puglia, Italy, with PDO status, offering big, bold flavour at an affordable price. Belazu, sold in many supermarkets, uses early-harvested arbequina olives and has a tomato-like aroma with slight bitterness and floral sweetness. Filippo Berio, a well-known brand, offers a grassy, herbaceous organic blend in a glass bottle.
The testing followed traditional methods: warming the oil in a glass, sniffing, then sipping and sucking air to spread the oil across the palate. The results highlight that supermarket own-brands can rival premium labels in quality and taste.
