Why good olive oil is worth paying for
For many people, olive oil is simply another item on the shopping list. A bottle goes into the trolley alongside the pasta, milk and washing powder. But good olive oil is less like a cooking ingredient and more like wine. The variety of olive, where it was grown, how it was harvested and how quickly it was pressed all affect the flavour in the bottle. That's why a carefully sourced deli olive oil can taste very different from a typical supermarket alternative.
What makes a good olive oil?
Extra virgin olive oil is the highest grade of olive oil. It is extracted mechanically rather than chemically and must meet strict quality standards.
The best oils are often:
Made from olives harvested at the right stage of ripeness
Pressed quickly after harvest
Cold pressed to preserve flavour and quality
Produced in smaller quantities with full traceability
Often sourced from a single estate or specific region
Many supermarket oils are blends from multiple countries and harvests designed to produce a consistent, inexpensive product. There is nothing inherently wrong with that, but they rarely have the character and freshness of a carefully selected estate oil.
The new season's Sicilian olive oil has arrived
We're delighted to have received the latest season's extra virgin olive oil from Western Sicily.
This is a single-estate olive oil, cold pressed and unfiltered, producing a beautifully balanced oil with rich fruity notes and a delicate peppery finish.
The fact that it is unfiltered means tiny particles of olive remain in the oil, helping to preserve flavour and character. Unfiltered oils are often slightly cloudy and can offer a fuller flavour profile than heavily processed alternatives.
How to use good olive oil
A quality olive oil deserves to be tasted rather than hidden.
Some of our favourite ways to use it include:
Drizzled over tomato salads
Poured over grilled fish
Added to roasted vegetables just before serving
Dipped with fresh crusty bread
Finished over soups and pasta dishes
Mixed with balsamic vinegar for a simple vinaigrette
A good olive oil can transform even the simplest ingredients.
Looking for something a little different?
Alongside our Sicilian extra virgin olive oil, we also stock a range of flavoured olive oils that make cooking easy and add instant flavour.
They're perfect for:
Dressing salads
Marinading meat and fish
Drizzling over pizza
Roasted vegetables
Bread dipping
A gift for a foodie
Olive oil also makes a surprisingly good gift.
You can buy individual bottles, choose from our range of flavoured oils, or create your own gift box or hamper combining olive oils, balsamic vinegars, pasta, cheeses and other deli favourites.
It's the sort of gift that gets enjoyed rather than left in a cupboard.
Whether you're a keen cook or simply want to see what properly made olive oil tastes like, pop in and try the new season's Sicilian oil. We think you'll notice the difference.