Surprising taste test result: This $7 supermarket olive oil from Australia is the best value!
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In the cooking scene, olive oil goes beyond being a simple ingredient—it's almost a basic need, like heat or water.
According to the Australian Olive Association, Aussies, on average, go through 2.1 litres per person each year, and a good portion is now made locally.
The history of Australia's olive oil industry dates back to 1870, with prisoners planting olive trees in the Adelaide gaol.
With challenges in the Mediterranean affecting imported supplies, the focus is on local options. There are Aussie brands around, the question is, which olive oils are worth it?
Food writer Tristan Lutze conducted a blind-tasting test of 10 Australian olive oils, evaluating flavour, aroma, texture, colour, and cloudiness—including cost, availability, and packaging, with a focus on pourability.
After a golden afternoon of tasting, here's the lowdown on the standout oils:
Best overall: Cobram Estate Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oil Classic Flavour 750mL, $20 from ALDI, Coles and Woolworths, $2.67 per 100mL
Cobram Estate, a go-to in many Australian homes, is a versatile and practical golden oil.
Its pop-up pouring spout is ideal for everyday use—neutral for frying or baking, yet bold as a finishing touch on steak or pasta.
Balancing vibrant freshness with body and a subtle spicy kick, it's an excellent all-around oil.
Best value: Woolworths Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oil 500mL, $7 from Woolworths, $1.40 per 100mL
Woolworths Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oil surprises with a deep colour, vibrant aroma, and rich flavour.
With a deeper hue and richer aroma than Coles and ALDI options, Woolworths' home label offers strong value at just $1.40 for 100mL.
Its buttery texture with notes of wheatgrass and melon peel sets it apart, offering a genuine extra virgin olive oil experience.
Best splurge: Mount Zero Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil 500mL, $20.20 from Mount Zero Olives (online), $4.04 per 100mL
Mount Zero, the priciest on the list, offers unparalleled flavour and complexity.
Sourced from Victorian Wimmera and Grampians regions, this oil combines dewy grass and apple peel notes with sweet vanilla and a pleasant touch of lemon bitterness.
Ideal for drizzling over stone fruit, steaks, grilled crayfish, and steamed new potatoes, it's the olive oil equivalent of a bottle of Grange.
Best for dunking: Goldi Smooth Extra Virgin Olive Oil 500mL, $18 from Goldi (online), $3.60 per 100mL
A newcomer in the olive oil scene, recognised by its unique opaque squeeze bottles, lives up to its bold claims in social media and packaging.
This Victorian oil boasts a bright, clean flavour with a subtle pungency, accentuated by notes of tomato stem, rocket, and parsley.
It’s perfect for drizzling over fresh strawberries, dunking with oven-warm focaccia, or enjoying straight from the bottle.
Most peppery: Cockatoo Grove Organic Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oil Classic 750mL, $18 from Woolworths, $2.40 per 100mL
In this northern Victorian oil, pungency, often a quality indicator in olive oils, leans towards overwhelming.
The bold pepperiness may be too intense for everyday salad dressings or weeknight bolognese.
However, it's well-suited for crafting a classic steak au poivre, eliminating the need for a pepper grinder.
The remaining oils in the test include:
Members, what's your go-to olive oil, and why? Have you found any hidden gems in the market? Let us know in the comments below!
According to the Australian Olive Association, Aussies, on average, go through 2.1 litres per person each year, and a good portion is now made locally.
The history of Australia's olive oil industry dates back to 1870, with prisoners planting olive trees in the Adelaide gaol.
With challenges in the Mediterranean affecting imported supplies, the focus is on local options. There are Aussie brands around, the question is, which olive oils are worth it?
Food writer Tristan Lutze conducted a blind-tasting test of 10 Australian olive oils, evaluating flavour, aroma, texture, colour, and cloudiness—including cost, availability, and packaging, with a focus on pourability.
After a golden afternoon of tasting, here's the lowdown on the standout oils:
Tristan Lutze explores 10 Australian olive oils to identify the ones worth investing in. Image source: Pixabay
Best overall: Cobram Estate Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oil Classic Flavour 750mL, $20 from ALDI, Coles and Woolworths, $2.67 per 100mL
Cobram Estate, a go-to in many Australian homes, is a versatile and practical golden oil.
Its pop-up pouring spout is ideal for everyday use—neutral for frying or baking, yet bold as a finishing touch on steak or pasta.
Balancing vibrant freshness with body and a subtle spicy kick, it's an excellent all-around oil.
Best value: Woolworths Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oil 500mL, $7 from Woolworths, $1.40 per 100mL
Woolworths Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oil surprises with a deep colour, vibrant aroma, and rich flavour.
With a deeper hue and richer aroma than Coles and ALDI options, Woolworths' home label offers strong value at just $1.40 for 100mL.
Its buttery texture with notes of wheatgrass and melon peel sets it apart, offering a genuine extra virgin olive oil experience.
Cobram Estate's Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oil (left) is the top pick, while Woolworths' Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oil (right) takes the prize for the best value. Image source: Woolworths
Best splurge: Mount Zero Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil 500mL, $20.20 from Mount Zero Olives (online), $4.04 per 100mL
Mount Zero, the priciest on the list, offers unparalleled flavour and complexity.
Sourced from Victorian Wimmera and Grampians regions, this oil combines dewy grass and apple peel notes with sweet vanilla and a pleasant touch of lemon bitterness.
Ideal for drizzling over stone fruit, steaks, grilled crayfish, and steamed new potatoes, it's the olive oil equivalent of a bottle of Grange.
Best for dunking: Goldi Smooth Extra Virgin Olive Oil 500mL, $18 from Goldi (online), $3.60 per 100mL
A newcomer in the olive oil scene, recognised by its unique opaque squeeze bottles, lives up to its bold claims in social media and packaging.
This Victorian oil boasts a bright, clean flavour with a subtle pungency, accentuated by notes of tomato stem, rocket, and parsley.
It’s perfect for drizzling over fresh strawberries, dunking with oven-warm focaccia, or enjoying straight from the bottle.
Mount Zero Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil (left) is the best splurge, while Goldi Smooth Extra Virgin Olive Oil (right) is ideal for dunking. Image source: Mount Zero and Goldi websites.
Most peppery: Cockatoo Grove Organic Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oil Classic 750mL, $18 from Woolworths, $2.40 per 100mL
In this northern Victorian oil, pungency, often a quality indicator in olive oils, leans towards overwhelming.
The bold pepperiness may be too intense for everyday salad dressings or weeknight bolognese.
However, it's well-suited for crafting a classic steak au poivre, eliminating the need for a pepper grinder.
The remaining oils in the test include:
- Red Island Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oil 250mL, $5.50 from Coles and Woolworths, $2.20 per 100mL.
While it may not be ideal for finishing, this oil is well-suited for gently cooking mild-flavoured fish due to its neutral profile.
- Kangaroo Island Olives Extra Virgin Olive Oil Medium Bodied 500mL, $19.95 from Woolworths, $3.99 per 100ml.
This oil grabs attention with fresh-cut grass notes and a vibrant olive-green hue, yet its appeal diminishes after the initial impression.
- Squeaky Gate Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oil The All Rounder 750mL, $15 from Coles and Woolworths, $2 per 100mL.
Though it reveals little in aroma, it surprises with a robust flavour, making it suitable for herby salads, grilled seafood, or dishes where flavour takes precedence over aroma.
- Coles Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oil 1L, $13 from Coles, $1.35 per 100mL.
Recognised as the butteriest, this oil lacks a distinct aroma or flavour but compensates with value in size. It is best reserved for cooking.
- The Olive Tree Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oil Classic Blend 1L, $10.99 from ALDI, $1.10 per 100mL.
Despite creating a buzz with its medal label, ALDI’s oil falls short, offering only faint hints of apple and citrus with a thin, mellow flavour. Despite its affordability, it doesn't live up to the hype.
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