Extra virgin olive oil is one of the most expensive grocery items in the supermarkets, with some premium brands coming with an eyewatering price tag, but which tastes the best?
All extra virgin olive oil is derived from cold-pressed olives, while standard olive oil is a blend that includes processed oils. This makes extra virgin olive oil the healthier option as it retains more of the natural antioxidants and vitamins that can be lost during processing.
However, extra virgin olive oil is among some of the priciest items on supermarket shelves, with some costing over £25. The popular ingredient, which is typically sourced in European countries, is incredibly versatile – ideal for drizzling over salads, using as a base for pasta sauces, swirling atop soups and of course, dipping your sourdough bread into.
To help you determine if the most expensive extra virgin olive oil brands are worth splashing out on, Express journalist Andrea Partrone put ten different brands to the test.
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Filippo Berio
“Starting off with one of the UK’s most popular oil brands, Filippo Berio extra virgin olive oil had a nice colour and thick consistency; however, in terms of flavour, there wasn’t anything special about it.
“Retailing for £14 to £16 per litre, there are certainly better options ahead that are far cheaper.”
Rating: 6/10
Il Casolare
“Golden in colour and full of flavour. It’s striking how smooth this £16 extra virgin olive oil is – silky, almost. I like this: it tastes like olives and artichokes; however, I wasn’t a fan of the peppery, almost spicy finish.”
Rating: 8.5/10
Asda
“Reminiscent of green herbs and tomato plants, I found this £7.38 oil from Asda really pleasing and surprising, not least for its persistent, peppery notes.
“A great working oil that I would happily use for day-to-day cooking and dressings.”
Rating: 8/10
Tesco
“Considering this wasn’t the cheapest of the lot, this £7 Tesco olive oil was probably the worst one.
“It felt thin in the mouth, and there was no hint of olive flavour. Perhaps this oil is best kept for stews and soups.”
Rating: 3/10
Morrisons
“This £8.40 option from Morrisons was a little better than Tesco’s, but not by much. It’s got a much more grassy taste than some of the other offerings, rather than olive.”
Rating: 4/10
Aldi
“Coming in at £6.49, the flavour was pretty good, better than a few of the other supermarket brands.
“But the consistency was just a tad too thick, and left my salad wet and soggy, unfortunately.”
Rating: 5.5/10
Lidl
“Considering a bottle of extra virgin olive oil costs £4.99 at Lidl, I can’t believe how good it was.
“It has a nice, strong olive flavour, but I found that it was a little too thick.”
Rating: 8/10
Sainsbury’s
“There wasn’t as much flavour to the Sainsbury’s £7 one, nor did it add much to my salad, as some of the others I tried.
“But on the bright side, the consistency was perfect, leaving my veggies not too soggy.”
Rating: 6/10
Marks & Spencer
“Coming in as the most expensive supermarket brand of extra virgin olive oil, this £9 option from Marks and Spencer had a great texture. It’s nice and light, so you could drizzle it over any meal for an added oomph.
“However, while the initial flavour was nice, I wasn’t a fan of the aftertaste.”
Rating: 7.5/10
Waitrose
“I was very impressed with the light, subtle taste of the Waitrose extra virgin olive oil, which was still peppery but smooth.
The consistency is also thinner than some other oils on the market, making it ideal for covering lettuce. The only downside of this was the slightly pricey cost of £8.50, but it wasn’t the most expensive.”
Rating: 10/10
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