Spanish Olive Oil: The UK Buyer's Guide

How to read an olive oil label, which Spanish varieties taste how, the bottles worth buying in the UK, and how to use and store them.

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Spain produces more olive oil than any other country, yet most of what reaches British supermarkets is anonymous, old or blended. A good Spanish extra virgin tastes green, fresh and a little peppery — and once you’ve tried one, the yellow bottle in the cupboard makes sense only for frying. This page sums up the series.

Read the label first

“Extra virgin” is the only grade worth paying for, and the harvest date matters more than the price. → How to read an olive oil label

Pick a variety, not just a brand

Picual is bold and peppery, Arbequina soft and fruity, Hojiblanca somewhere in between. → Spanish olive varieties explained

What to buy

Our top picks

  • Best to taste

    Extra virgin

    Castillo de Canena Family Reserve Picual Extra Virgin Olive Oil (500 ml)

    Finishing, bread, salads

    Check price on Amazon

  • Best first bottle

    Extra virgin

    Castillo de Canena Family Reserve Arbequina Extra Virgin Olive Oil (500 ml)

    First premium EVOO, fish

    Check price on Amazon

  • Best for everyday cooking

    Extra virgin

    Venta del Barón Extra Virgin Olive Oil (2.5 L tin)

    Everyday cooking, big households

    Check price on Amazon

→ The best Spanish olive oils you can buy in the UK

Use it, don’t hoard it

Olive oil is a fresh product. Keep it dark and cool, and finish a bottle within a couple of months of opening. → How to use and store olive oil

Is expensive olive oil worth it?

For raw use, yes. For deep frying, no. → Is premium olive oil worth the price?

Every guide in this series