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Olive Oil: Ratings of Sources
Total of 15 Sources
For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.
Taste Test: Extra Virgin Olive Oil
by Susan Westmoreland
by Susan Westmoreland
Our Assessment
Good Housekeeping runs a dozen supermarket-brand extra virgin olive oils past a panel of nine tasters, who sample the oils by themselves and on crusty bread. The top finishers are Monini (which is called "the perfect all-in-one oil"), Whole Foods 365 (for its low price and "intensely robust olive taste") and Carapelli.
Update: Are Italian Olive Oils Really that Good?
by Editors of Cook's Illustrated
by Editors of Cook's Illustrated
Our Assessment
In this taste test, Cook's Illustrated rounds up 10 fairly expensive extra virgin olive oils, tasting them by themselves, on French bread and drizzled over mozzarella.
Greek Olive Oil Tops Taste Test
by Editors of Choice magazine
by Editors of Choice magazine
Our Assessment
This Australian consumer publication tries out 28 supermarket olive oils, and chooses a Greek brand, P'NOE Breath of Life Classic, as best overall (followed by four Australian brands). Oddly, Colavita -- which is top-rated in the U.S. by various sources -- finishes dead last here, and is described as bitter and stale. In a previous test by Choice, Colavita finished near the top of the pack.
A Cheap Bottle Beats a Pricier Lineup
by Editors of Consumer Reports
by Editors of Consumer Reports
Our Assessment
In this roundup, Consumer Reports editors submit 18 brands of cheap and expensive olive oil to laboratory analysis and a taste test. Many of the cheaper brands do better than the expensive in this round of tests.
Test: Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
by Editors of Choice magazine
by Editors of Choice magazine
Our Assessment
Many of the 29 brands sampled by this Australian consumer publication aren't available in the U.S., but Colavita (which is) ranks among the top finishers. Interestingly, however, in the magazine's most recent taste test, Colavita finishes near the bottom. Choice magazine is a consumer publication similar in methodology to Consumer Reports.
Taste Test: Extra Virgin Olive Oil
by Ben Machell
by Ben Machell
Our Assessment
Writer Ben Machell and the head chef of the Intercontinental Hotel in London sample six extra virgin olive oils for this London newspaper. The top finisher, Sainsbury's, is available only in the UK; Carapelli Firenze is called "old and fatty tasting."
Tasting Lab: Which Supermarket Extra-Virgin Olive Oil is Best?
by Editors of Cook's Illustrated
by Editors of Cook's Illustrated
Our Assessment
Cook's Illustrated's reviewers taste 11 extra-virgin olive oils readily available at supermarkets and discuss the sometimes slippery standards for quality. They choose two favorites and briefly discuss how they measure up against premium brands.
Tasting Lab: Regular Olive Oil
by Editors of Cook's Illustrated
by Editors of Cook's Illustrated
Our Assessment
Cook's Illustrated rounds up seven supermarket-brand olive oils for a blind taste test in this somewhat dated but still useful article.
Putting Olive Oils to the Taste Test
by Editors of the Washington Post
by Editors of the Washington Post
Our Assessment
In this taste test, The Washington Post asks three chefs to sample nine brands of olive oil. The top finishers are L'huille d'Olive, Olio Beato and Pornanino Farm, followed by the extremely cheap Goya, while Filippo Berio is termed "not good" and "rancid."
California Strikes Oil: Artisanal Olive Oil
by Jane Sigal
by Jane Sigal
Our Assessment
In an exhaustive west-coast marathon, Food & Wine tasters sample 65 artisan olive oils from California. The clear favorite is Pasolivo, an extra virgin olive oil made by Willow Creek Olive Ranch. Most of the varieties tested are not available nationally, or are only available nationally by mail order.
Top 5 Olive Oils from Greece
by deTraci Regula
by deTraci Regula
Our Assessment
About.com's guide to Greece travel, deTraci Regula, recommends five olive oils she's personally tasted. Topping her list is Tassos, which (at the time of this article) was only available online in a… three-liter container, followed by Cretalife Organic and Taste of Greece. If a few more taste testers had been included, this article might have ranked more highly in our chart. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
How to Buy the Right Olive Oil
by Editors of Prevention
by Editors of Prevention
Our Assessment
This short article explains what to look for in an olive oil, and includes three recommendations: Trader Joe's Australian for extra virgin, Bertolli Classico for pure and Pompeian for extra light. However, the writer doesn't say how many brands were sampled before these picks were made, and it's not clear how many taste testers were included.
Pouring it On: Extra Virgin Oil as a Staple
by Florence Fabricant
by Florence Fabricant
Our Assessment
This review is over ten years old, but many of the olive oils discussed are still available. Food critic Fabricant tastes a dozen extra virgin olive oils, and recommends Athena, Fairway, Master Choice and Zoe. Bertolli and Colavita are in the "acceptable" category.
125 Best Foods in Your Supermarket
by Phillip Rhodes
by Phillip Rhodes
Our Assessment
Phillip Rhodes doesn't say much about how he came up with this exhaustive list, or how many products he tried in each category. Colavita Extra Virgin is listed as "best oil" for its "dark green color" and "full-bodied flavor." But without more information on how these products were chosen, other reviews are better.
Best Olive Oil for General Cooking
by Contributors to Chowhound.com
by Contributors to Chowhound.com
Our Assessment
In this discussion thread, most foodies line up behind one of two extra virgin olive oils: Colavita or Whole Foods 365 (which is recommended mainly on the basis of price).
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Columela Extra Virgin Olive Oil 17 ounce size
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