Consumer Reports Rated These 2 Trader Joe's Extra Virgin Olive Oils As The Best At The Store

Trader Joe's has quite the reputation for selling inexpensive groceries that punch well above their price tags, and its extra virgin olive oils are an especially good example. While we've done our own ranking of Trader Joe's olive oils, it's always good to get a second opinion. In a tasting of seven Trader Joe's olive oils, Consumer Reports (CR) singled out two as the best bets: Trader Giotto's 100% Italian President's Reserve Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Trader Joe's Sicilian Selezione Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Both stood out for tasting fresher and more complex than their counterparts, and that distinction matters, because not every bottle that's labeled extra virgin actually is, or even tastes like a premium product (that's why it's important to know how to tell if your extra virgin olive oil is the real deal.) CR noted that a good EVOO should taste fresh and fruity, with flavors that can range from grassy and herbal to slightly bitter. 

The more substantial of the two is Trader Giotto's 100% Italian President's Reserve Extra Virgin Olive Oil, which runs for $13 per 33.8-ounce bottle. The testers found it notably complex, with a balance of fruitiness, sharpness, and pungency. It's also reported to boast spicy and herbal flavors, a particularly good combination for an all-purpose EVOO. The peppery character gives it enough personality to use as a finishing oil, but its balanced flavors also make it a versatile workhorse in the kitchen.

The Trader Joe's Sicilian Selezione Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a smaller and slightly more expensive option at $10.99 for a 16.9-ounce bottle. Interestingly, its tasting notes are a bit different from the President's Reserve: testers detected a strong grassy taste reminiscent of underripe fruit, along with a punchy, nutty flavor. Their description makes the Sicilian Selezione particularly appealing as a finishing oil, as it is flavorful enough to make a difference when drizzled over dishes like Caprese salads and fresh pastas. Like the President's Reserve, this Trader Joe's olive oil can boast being purely Italian. This matters because Italian olive oil is subject to EU origin-labeling and traceability requirements to ensure its authenticity. 

It seems the biggest takeaway from Consumer Reports is that price isn't always a reliable indicator of olive oil quality. The organization blind-tested the oils, meaning testers didn't know which products they were tasting, and evaluated them using blue-colored tasting glasses so no appearances could influence their decisions. Overall, the two winners were praised specifically for their freshness and complexity. Keep in mind that olive oil doesn't get better with age, so consumers should still pay attention to the harvest date and best-by information when picking out their next EVOO. But considering that olive oil can be one of the best value items at Trader Joe's, these are both two bottles worth putting in your shopping cart.