Whole Foods 365 Everyday Value Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Whole Foods sells a number of extra-virgin olive oils under its 365 brand, including this Everyday Value Extra Virgin Olive Oil, which, according to the company's website, comes from a blend of olives from Mediterranean countries. Reviews say that Whole Foods 365 Everyday Value Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a great value for the money, but as far as flavor is concerned, premium olive oils typically taste better. Most reviewers agree that Whole Foods 365 is exactly what it claims to be -- a good workhorse olive oil for all-around, everyday use. It's neutral (and inexpensive) enough for cooking, yet flavorful enough for dipping.

Most reviewers use the low-tech, but highly effective, method of testing by slurping with a spoon or dunking with a piece of good bread. With olive oil it's all about the flavor, and even the most inexpensive budget oils, such as Whole Foods, are assessed for their level of olive-y taste. To balance the fact that taste buds don't conform to scientific objectivity, most review panels employ a number of experts -- some even trained according to International Olive Oil Council standards -- to remind us what a good olive oil should taste like.

Whole Foods consistently performs well in these tests, meriting praise for its flavor and affordability. In its comprehensive taste test of a dozen olive oils, Good Housekeeping names Whole Foods 365 one of their top three olive oils due to its "intensely robust olive taste."  Also convincing are the comments posted by foodies on Chowhound.com. Their enthusiasm is expressed in well-reasoned, informative posts detailing the high-quality flavor and everyday cooking uses of this popular, budget-priced olive oil. 

Many review sites mention Whole Foods 365 along with another popular budget brand, Trader Joe's Spanish Extra Virgin Olive Oil (*Est. $6 for 33.8 oz.). While the latter also comes in for some high praise and is comparable in price, it's only available at Trader Joe's retailers (and not online), making it much harder to find than the Whole Foods brand, and, for many people, almost impossible to get hold of unless they or someone they know lives near a Trader Joe's.