Good news for those of us who understand the importance of extra virign olive oil in our diet. Supermarkets suddenly seem to have woken up to the fact there could be a sales potential here. The last few years saw a decline in both the range of choice and the quality of supermarket olive oils and this was aggrevated by shortages and resultant price hikes.
This year the tide seems to have turned and I am seeing some really attractive, good quality oils appearing on the shelves. Even better news is that these oils are among the cheaper oils on sale; own label oils and even some brands.
Here is a selection which I think are really worth buying. Prices are around £10.00 or less
Aldi
Own Label Terri di Bari, Umbria
Style: Robust
Excellent herbaceous oil with culinary herbs and dark salad leaves, well balanced bitterness and pepper and an attractive after taste. This was Food Editor Xanthe Clay’s favourite in a tasting for the Daily Telegraph
Asda
Farcioni Casolare
Style: Medium
Easy all-round oil with a pleasant fruity, grassy aroma and a similar taste. Quite peppery
This oil is also on sale in some other stores
M&S
Own label Collection Nocellare Del Belice
Style: Medium
Excellent oil with the fruity aromas of tomatoes on the vine and a similar taste with herbs,citrus fruits and thenrising pepperiness. The latter grows and fades to leave an attractive lingering after taste.
Sainsbury
Own Label Taste the Difference Hojiblanca
Style: Gentle to medium fruity oil
The aroma and taste are both extremely fruity with lightly tropical tones and a kiwi and citrus mix. Very light bitterness is followed by quite a peppery punch
Own Label Taste the Difference Frantoio
Style: Medium Good straight forward Italian style oil
This oil offers a spicy salad bowl of bitter salad leaves, herbs and nuts with citrus tones. The flavour in the mouth is similar and lasts reasonably well
Own label Taste Difference Greek Athinoelia
Style: Medium to robust
Pleasant haylike and citrus tones lead on to plenty of well blended herby bitterness and pepper. This fades to a pleasant after taste
Tesco
Il Perello
Style: Gentle
The aroma is soft and fruity with ripe pears, red grapes and a touch of dried prunes. The fruity tones persist in the mouth along with light nuts and a milky, biscuity bitterness. There is very little pepperiness.
This oil is also on sale in other stores
Waitrose
Belazu Early Harvest Arbequina
Style: Gentle all round oil with a good depth of flavour
Attractive aroma of flowery herbs, light apples, pears and spiced nuts is followed by mixed dried herbs and a touch of banana. A little bitterness and a light to medium level of pepper slowly build and then linger into a soft after taste.
This oil is also on sale in some other stores
Odysa Early Harvest Greek
Style: Robust
Fresh aroma of bitter salad leaves and lemon zest. Flavours are similar with quite strong bitterness and pepper lingering well into the after taste’
This oil is also on sale in some other stores
If you would like to taste these and other supermarket oils why not join one of my mini classes in Brighton?
www.judyridgway.co.uk