What are the 5 best olive oils in the world?

We tend to ask ourselves this question when we buy olive oil . But what is it really? What are the best olive oils in the world ?

It's really difficult to objectively determine the best olive oils in the world because tastes and preferences vary from person to person.

However, there are several regions renowned for their production of quality olive oil . We will begin this article by analyzing high-end olive oil brands and we will compare them with the olive oils frequently sold in supermarkets. Secondly, we will discuss the three regions of the world considered to be the best, without forgetting their most used olive varieties .

Attention sensitive souls refrain because perhaps your oil is not in this ranking !

The best olive oils:

One of the most complicated questions to answer, and for which there is an ongoing debate between different producers and consumers.

In each country and in each region there are contests and competitions where certain brands participate to make their olive oil in the Top 3, Top 5 or Top 10 of the best oils, except that the ranking evolves and is completely different depending on its regions and countries.

As we said at the beginning of this article, “ it is really difficult to objectively determine the best olive oils in the world, because tastes and preferences vary from person to person . ".

In addition to that, in international competitions, not all brands are represented, which gives an advantage mainly to the world's major olive oil brands. In this list, we do not take into account products flavored with truffle , garlic , lemon , basil, or other preparation with olive oil .

Taking into account all these aspects that I have just commented on previously, we can distinguish a few brands renowned for their product quality.

1- Canoliva Organic olive oil, from Andalusia :

1. Aroma and Flavor :

   • Aroma : Canoliva Organic olive oil is distinguished by its fresh and fruity aromas with notes of fresh grass, green tomato, and sometimes touches of apple or almond.
   • Flavor : On the palate, it offers a balanced taste with a light bitterness and a subtle spiciness. Flavors may include nuances of artichoke, green fruit, and a slight bitterness characteristic of high-quality oils.

2. Quality :

   • Extra virgin : This oil is classified as extra virgin, meaning that it is extracted by mechanical processes without chemicals and has low acidity, generally less than 0.8%.
   • Organic : Certified organic, it complies with strict production standards, guaranteeing the absence of synthetic chemicals.

2- Monini Monocultivar Frantoio olive oil, from Italy:

Italian olive oil which has won numerous international competitions. It exists in organic form.

1. Aroma and Flavor :

• Aroma : This oil stands out for its intense fruity aromas with notes of freshly cut grass, tomato leaves and almonds.
• Flavor : On the palate it presents a balanced taste with a light bitterness and a hint of spiciness, typical characteristics of Frantoio oils. Herbaceous and artichoke flavors may also be present.

1. Quality :

• Extra virgin : Monini Monocultivar Frantoio olive oil is classified as extra virgin, which means that it is obtained by mechanical processes only, without the use of chemicals, and that it has a low acidity (usually less than 0.8%).
• Cold pressed : It is often extracted by cold pressing, thus keeping all its nutritional properties and aromas intact.

3- El Renegado olive oil, from Spain :

Spanish olive oil from Valencia which has won many international competitions. It exists in organic form . This oil is a blend of 3 incredible varieties of olives. Conicabra, Picual and Arbequina. An intense, fruity olive oil with aromas of fresh herbs and herbs leaving a tomato aftertaste with a medium level of bitterness and spiciness.

Available on the site .

1. Aroma and Flavor :

   • Aroma : El Renegado olive oil is characterized by fresh and complex aromas. There are notes of green fruits such as apple, as well as touches of fresh herbs and sometimes nuances of almond or green tomato.
   • Flavor : On the palate, it offers a well-balanced taste with moderate bitterness and light to medium spiciness. Flavors can include herbal, artichoke, and sometimes dried fruit notes.

2. Quality :

   • Extra virgin : Classified extra virgin, this oil is obtained by mechanical processes without the use of chemicals. Its acidity is generally less than 0.8%, guaranteeing high quality.
   • Production : Often produced in small quantities to ensure careful attention to each stage of production, from the choice of olives to the extraction of the oil.

4- Monte Rosso olive oil, from Croatia :

Croatian olive oil, which has won some international competitions.

1. Aroma and Flavor :

   • Aroma : Monte Rosso olive oil is distinguished by rich and complex aromas. There are notes of ripe fruit, freshly cut grass, and often touches of almond or tomato.
   • Flavor : On the palate, it offers a well-balanced taste with a mild bitterness and a subtle spiciness. Flavors can include nuances of apple, artichoke, and nuts, making it particularly pleasant and versatile.

2. Quality :

   • Extra virgin : Classified as extra virgin olive oil, it is obtained only by mechanical processes, without the use of chemicals. Its acidity is generally very low, often less than 0.3%, which testifies to its high quality.
   • Harvest and Production : Olives are often harvested by hand and cold pressed shortly after harvest to preserve all the aromas and nutritional qualities of the oil.

5- Terra Creta olive oil, from Greece :

Greek olive oil, which has won certain international competitions, notably before 2022. It exists in Organic .

1. Aroma and Flavor :

   • Aroma : Terra Creta olive oil is distinguished by intense fruity aromas with notes of fresh grass, olive leaves, and often touches of green tomato, apple, and almond.
   • Flavor : On the palate, it offers a complex and balanced flavor with a slight bitterness and a subtle spiciness. Flavors can include herbaceous, artichoke, and sometimes hints of pepper and nuts.

2. Quality :

   • Extra virgin : Classified as extra virgin, this oil is obtained only by mechanical processes without chemicals, and it has a very low acidity, generally less than 0.8%, guaranteeing superior quality.
   • Certification : Terra Creta is often certified by quality labels such as the PGI (Protected Geographical Indication), which guarantees its origin and traditional production methods.

Surely, many of you don't know any of these brands of olive oil, but that's normal. Some brands are known in certain countries, and some brands sell at very high prices only on their sites or in very famous hotels. However, there are many international contests and competitions all over the world every year, so the rankings can change depending on the year, the harvest and where you live.

What about supermarket olive oils?

A question that often comes up is why supermarket olive oil is priced at 7 to 10 euros per liter, when the site's olive oils are between 15 and 30 euros per liter.

To put it simply, supermarket olive oils are not the same type of product. They are often mixed, and of average quality, but can be used for cooking. You have to look carefully at the origin of the product. The origin plays a central role in the flavor and taste of olive oil. Choose virgin and organic olive oils of Spanish or French origin. Olive oil brands like Puget or Carapelli can be olive oils for a tighter budget.

However, if you want to taste an olive oil with aromas and quality, you must aim for prices of 20 to 30 euros per liter, or buy a can of olive oil, and reduce to prices of 14 to 18 euros per liter.

The regions of best olive oil production :

Extra virgin olive oil from Andalusia, Spain :

Andalusia or Andalucía (in Spanish) is the main producing region of Spain and the world. There are many PDOs including PDO Baena, PDO Sierra de Segura. You can find all kinds of quality there, but also very good quality. We mainly find the Picual variety (the most common variety in the world. From a sensory point of view, it is an oil which has a lot of personality. It is full-bodied, slightly fruity, bitter and spicy.

There is also a second variety of olive, the Hojiblanca variety. This olive is characterized by its flavor and aroma of freshly cut grass, artichoke and aromatic plants. It has a slight bitterness and an intense spiciness on the finish.

Extra virgin olive oil from Tuscany, Italy :

Tuscany (PDO Chianti or PDO Terre di Siena) is also famous for its quality olive oil. As in Andalusia where you can find all the quality. The Tuscan varieties are Frantaoio and Leccino. Frantaoio olive oil is dark green in color, light touch of acidity and fruity. Like the Hojiblanca variety, it has an aroma of freshly cut grass, artichoke and aromatic plants. Leccino olive oil will have a neutral and slightly aromatic flavor, with a bitter and slightly spicy aftertaste.

Extra virgin olive oil from the island of Crete, Greece :

Crete is also renowned for its long tradition of olive oil. 1/3 of Greece's olive oils come from the island (PDO Sitia or PDO Messara). Oils from this island are valued for their robust taste. We mainly find the Koroneiki variety, a variety that is resistant to climate change and which is in the process of arriving in other producing countries. With small olives, this one is fruity with a good balance between bitterness and spiciness.

And what about France?

Certainly France is starting to produce good olive oils, particularly from Corsica (AOP oliu di corsica) and the Aix en Provence region (AOP aix en provence), but has not yet managed to have a sufficient volume. important to rank in the top places in terms of volume and quality.

There are other regions of the world where excellent olive oils are found such as in the Maghreb countries, Croatia, Turkey, the Middle East and even America, but the best olive oil will depend of your taste and the use you make of it. Olive oil for salad and olive oil for cooking may be different. And what about olive oil brands? Which are the best?

And for the olive oils on this site?

We try to promote small producers, and companies whose quality we know. We test all products, which allows us to better advise our customers based on taste and use.

On the other hand Cuisine d'Espagne tries to offer products accessible to more people, and therefore to balance quality and price. Our products are of excellent quality, but have a more affordable price.

How to buy extra virgin olive oil on Cuisine d'Espagne?

On Cuisine d'Espagne you will find a selection of extra virgin olive oils, and also ORGANIC. You will find fruity, truffle flavored, lemon flavored , chili flavored , garlic flavored , in glass, in a flask, in a bottle, in a can or in a discovery basket.

To buy it just takes a few clicks, choose your delivery (there are several deliveries. Express delivery available in 24/48 hours, delivery available at a 3/4 day relay point and even delivery available at a 24 hour relay point). You can buy oil for cooking, but also to offer in a gift box ( Olive oil discovery basket )

Olive oil stock is available in our warehouse in France. There is a selection of products that are available for purchase. In a small bottle you have truffle, smoked, koroneki, Manzanilla or smoked paprika. In the bottle you have Canoliva, with garlic, lemon or organic. In a can, you have picual or hojiblanca oil (Canoliva), or a mixture of Arbequina, Picual and Cornicabra.