We put some of the UK’s favourite brands to the test
11:13, 05 Aug 2025Updated 17:17, 05 Aug 2025
All the different oils tested
All extra virgin olive oil is made from cold-pressed olives, whilst standard olive oil is a blend that includes processed oils. Therefore, extra virgin olive oil is a healthier choice, retaining more of the natural antioxidants and vitamins that can be lost during processing.
However, extra virgin olive oil is one of the most expensive items on supermarket shelves, with many priced over £25. Extra virgin olive oil is incredibly versatile – perfect for drizzling over salads, using as a base for pasta sauces, in sandwiches, swirling on soups and of course, dipping your bread into.
To help you decide whether the priciest extra virgin olive oil brands are worth the investment, I’ve put them to the test against eight well-known supermarkets:
Filippo Berio
Filippo Berio and Il Casolare extra virgin olive oil
Beginning with one of the UK’s favourite oil brands, Filippo Berio extra virgin olive oil had a pleasing colour and thick consistency; however, it didn’t stand out in terms of flavour, reports the Mirror.
Retailing for £14 to £16 per litre, there are certainly better, more affordable options available.
Rating: 6/10
Il Casolare
Golden in colour and bursting with flavour. It’s remarkable how smooth this £16 extra virgin olive oil is – almost silky.
I like this: it tastes like olives and artichokes; however, I wasn’t keen on the peppery, almost spicy finish.
Rating: 8.5/10
Asda
Asda and Tesco bottles of olive oil
Reminding me 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.
It’s a solid everyday oil that I’d be more than happy to use for regular cooking and dressings.
Rating: 8/10
Tesco
Despite not being the cheapest on offer, this £7 olive oil from Tesco was arguably the most disappointing.
It felt thin on the palate, with no discernible olive flavour. Perhaps it’s best reserved for stews and soups.
Rating: 3/10
Morrisons
This £8.40 option from Morrisons was slightly better than Tesco’s, but only just. It’s got a much more grassy taste than some of the other offerings, rather than olive.
Rating: 4/10
Aldi
Lidl and Aldi extra virgin olive oil bottles
Coming in at £6.49, the flavour was pretty good, better than a few of the other supermarket brands.
However, the consistency from Aldi was just a bit too thick, leaving my salad wet and soggy, sadly.
Rating: 5.5/10
Lidl
Given that a bottle of extra virgin olive oil costs £4.99 at Lidl, I was so impressed by 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
Extra virgin olive oil from Sainsbury’s and M&S
This one from Sainsbury’s didn’t have as much flavour, nor did it enhance my salad as much as some of the others I tried.
But on the plus side, the consistency was spot on, leaving my veggies perfectly moist, not overly soggy.
Rating: 6/10
M&S
Topping the list 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 perfect for adding a bit of pizzazz to any meal with a drizzle.
However, while the initial flavour was nice, I wasn’t too fond of the aftertaste.
Rating: 7.5/10
Waitrose
I was quite taken with the light, subtle taste of this Waitrose olive oil that was still peppery but smooth.
The consistency is also thinner than some other oils on the market, making it perfect for drizzling over lettuce. The only drawback of this was the slightly steep price of £8.50, but it wasn’t the priciest.
Rating: 10/10
Dining and Cooking