Extra virgin olive oil is a fundamental ingredient that you’re likely to use on a daily basis – and it’s important to ensure that you’re using the best quality.
Extra virgin olive oil is among the most expensive items in supermarkets, with many priced over £25, we truly are in a cost of living crisis aren’t we. It is an incredibly versatile product, perfect for drizzling on salads, using as a base for pasta sauces, in sandwiches, swirling atop soups and of course, dipping your sourdough bread into.
However, the price can be rather off putting and as a result we opt for cheaper alternatives that may not include the natural antioxidants, flavour and vitamins that can be lost during processing. You can read more about how our deputy content hub director cut out chocolate and ultra-processed food for two months here.
To assist you in deciding if the priciest extra virgin olive oil brands are worth the investment, we’ve put them to the test against eight well-known supermarkets. For the latest restaurant news and reviews, sign up to our food and drink newsletter here.
Filippo Berio
Beginning with one of the UK’s favourite oil brands, Filippo Berio extra virgin olive oil had a pleasing colour and thick consistency; however, when it came to flavour, there wasn’t anything particularly remarkable about it.
Retailing for £14 to £16 per litre, there are certainly superior options available that are far less costly.
Rating: 6/10.
Il Casolare
Golden in colour and bursting with flavour. It’s astonishing how smooth this £16 extra virgin olive oil is – silky, almost.
I like this: it tastes of olives and artichokes; however, I wasn’t keen on the peppery, almost spicy finish.
Rating: 8.5/10.
Waitrose
I was rather charmed by the light, understated taste of this Waitrose olive oil, which managed to be both peppery and smooth.
Its consistency is also thinner than some other oils available, making it perfect for drizzling over lettuce. The only downside was its slightly steep price tag of £8.50, although it wasn’t the most expensive.
Rating: 10/10
Asda
Reminding me of fresh herbs and tomato plants, I found this £7.38 oil from Asda quite delightful and unexpected, particularly due to its enduring, peppery undertones. It’s a fantastic everyday oil that I’d gladly use for routine cooking and dressings.
Rating: 8/10.
Tesco
Despite not being the most affordable option, this £7 olive oil from Tesco was arguably the least impressive. It felt thin on the palate, with no discernible olive flavour.
Perhaps this oil is best reserved for stews and soups. Rating: 3/10.
Morrisons
This £8.40 choice from Morrisons was slightly superior to Tesco’s offering, but only just. It has a more grassy taste than some of the other options, rather than olive.
Rating: 4/10.
Aldi
Priced at £6.49, the flavour was fairly good, surpassing a few of the other supermarket brands. However, the consistency from Aldi was a bit too thick, leaving my salad damp and soggy, unfortunately.
Rating: 5.5/10.
Lidl
Given that a bottle of extra virgin olive oil costs £4.99 at Lidl, I was astounded by its quality. It has a pleasant, robust olive flavour, although I found it to be a tad too thick.
Rating: 8/10.
Sainsbury’s
This one from Sainsbury’s lacked in flavour and didn’t contribute much to my salad, unlike some of the others I sampled. On the plus side, the consistency was spot on, ensuring my veggies weren’t overly soggy.
Rating: 6/10.
M&S
As the priciest supermarket brand of extra virgin olive oil, this £9 option from Marks and Spencer boasts a fantastic texture. It’s pleasantly light, making it ideal for adding a bit of pizzazz to any meal with a drizzle.
However, despite an agreeable initial flavour, I found the aftertaste less appealing.
Rating: 7.5/10.