5 Best Grocery Store Extra Virgin Olive Oils of 2026 (We Tried 10!) - Dining and Cooking

Kitchn and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.

Credit: Alex Lepe

In This Article

When we think of kitchen must-haves, a great bottle of olive oil is high up on that list. Some oils are bright and grassy. Some lean buttery and mellow. Others hit you with a bold, peppery finish that makes you cough a little (which, in the olive oil world, is a really good sign).

To find the best one for our needs, we did what any olive oil-obsessed home cooks would do: We lined up a bunch of bottles and tasted them side by side.

Chocolate Bark RecipeSo, What’s the Best Olive Oil Brand?

Bono Val di Mazara Sicilian PDO Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil earned high praise for its balanced complexity and “smooth” texture.

For this test, we focused on classic EVOOs that print a harvest date on their bottles (which tell you when the olives were picked from the trees, aka how fresh the oil is). Then we narrowed the brands down based on availability, popularity, and affordability. We capped the price at $25 for a standard 750-milliliter bottle. At the time of this taste test, the oils ranged in price from $10 all the way up to $25, although most were around $15 at the time of this tasting.

After an afternoon of sampling and tallying the scores, this is the one we’ll keep stocked in our kitchens.

Credit: Alex Lepe

Best Olive Oil: Bono Val di Mazara Sicilian PDO Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Bono Val di Mazara Sicilian PDO Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil earned standout praise from practically everyone in our test, making it the clear winner. Anna, our executive creative director, highlighted its “olive-y taste with a smooth finish and a bite of pepper,” that perfectly encapsulates the oil’s balanced complexity. Mara, our director of groceries and shopping, loved its texture, calling it “so smooth” with “no bitterness at all,” adding that it was sweet and flavorful.

Ali, our associate groceries editor, summed up its appeal simply: “I want to dip crusty bread in this.” It is on the pricier side, but we’re firm believers in having a few types of olive oils at our disposal for drizzling (maybe over vanilla ice cream?) and special occasions.

What’s So Great

Good to Know

$$, but worth the splurge

Buy: Bono Val di Mazara Sicilian PDO Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, $24.99 for 16.9 ounces at Amazon

Credit: Alex Lepe

Runner-Up: Partanna Sicilian Robust Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Partanna Sicilian Robust Extra Virgin Olive Oil also earned high marks from our panel for its balance and classic flavor profile. Mara described it as “pretty mild with a punchy, peppery finish.” (Italian chefs really like this olive oil, too.)

Meanwhile Susan, our associate director of innovation and strategy, said it “feels like a classic olive oil,” while Celia, our editorial assistant, praised its “great subtle, smooth flavor,” naming it her favorite of the group. Why didn’t it take the top spot? A few folks, like Ivy, our manager of brand innovation and strategy, and Greg, our manager of people operations, found it to be a bit bitter and grassy for their liking.

What’s So Great

Good to Know

Available in tins and glass bottles

Buy: Partanna Sicilian Robust Extra Virgin Olive Oil, $19.99 for 16.9 ounces at Amazon

Credit: Alex Lepe

Honorable Mention: Paesanol Extra Virgin Oil Olive Unfiltered

Paesanol Extra Virgin Oil Olive Unfiltered stood out for its bold and herbaceous complexity. Ivy described it as “herbal with a spicy finish,” while Susan appreciated its richness, noting that it “tastes very full-bodied.”

Several tasters leaned into its intensity — with one noting its “peppery and spicy” profile would be especially good drizzled over roasted vegetables. That punchy flavor, however, wasn’t for everyone. Marisa, director of sales research & consumer insights, and Anna both found it “super bitter,” making it a more polarizing pick among the group.

What’s So Great

Good to Know

A bit too bitter, for some

Buy: Paesanol Extra Virgin Oil Olive Unfiltered, $19.80 for 25.4 ounces at Amazon

Credit: Alex Lepe

Honorable Mention: Bertolli Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Testers were also fond of Bertolli Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, which had a “nice viscosity,” according to Mara, who also noted its “velvety and smooth” finish. Others, like Ali, picked up on that same finish, noting a slight peppery-spicy aftertaste that added a bit of intrigue. Still, not everyone was convinced. Celia found it lacking that “punchy flavor” she looks for in a great olive oil.

What’s So Great

Good to Know

Not as flavorful as others

Bottled in Italy (made with olives sourced from Spain, Tunisia, Greece, and Italy)

Buy: Bertolli Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, $12.69 for 25.4 ounces at Amazon

Credit: Alex Lepe

Honorable Mention: California Olive Ranch 100% California Extra Virgin Medium

California Olive Ranch 100% California Extra Virgin Medium drew mixed reactions from our panel, with texture emerging as a clear highlight. Mara described it as “incredibly smooth,” and also noted its relatively neutral flavor. Anna doubled down on that “smooth” quality, and added that it has a nice “pepper” flavor. Susan picked up on that same note, describing “a bit of a peppery after-kick” and saying she would buy it. Ultimately, though, other testers found it to be too one-note.

What’s So Great

Good to Know

A bit too one-note, to some

Buy:California Olive Ranch 100% California Extra Virgin Medium, $26.99 for 33.8 ounces at Amazon

How We Tested the Olive Oil Brands

We recruited seven olive oil lovers who work in our office to randomly taste 10 different store-bought olive oil brands. Ahead of the tasting Maya, our studio associate, mixed the olive oils and poured sample-size portions into small cups. She assigned each brand a letter — A through J — to conceal their identities ahead of the taste test. We also had some crusty bread for dipping and water on hand as a palate cleanser between tasting (it was like an appetizer course at a fancy Italian restaurant).

Tasters were encouraged to sample the olive oil brands in random order (to avoid giving any particular brand an advantage) before writing down their thoughts. Our team then rated each one on a scale of one to five (1 = No, thanks; 2 = Meh; 3 = Pretty good; 4 = Really like; 5 = Yes, please!) across four criteria — look, smell, texture, and flavor — and included any specific observations, tasting notes, and general opinions worth mentioning. They were also asked to answer, arguably, the most important question of all: Would you buy this olive oil?

Why You Should Trust Us

To decide which olive oil brands are worth buying, we recruited seven volunteers who work at Apartment Therapy Media (our parent company) to evaluate 10 different brands based on texture, look, smell, desire to repurchase, and, of course, flavor.

Tasters were unaware of the brands involved and sampled each one randomly. Each taster independently filled out a score sheet, scoring and ranking each one without larger discussion or influence from the group throughout the entirety of the test. After all evaluations were completed, we tallied the scores to determine the winners.

Did your favorite olive oil brand make the list? Tell us about it in the comments below.

The Weekly Checkout

Subscribe to The Kitchn!