I’ve Tried Every Bottle of Olive Oil at Trader Joe’s — This Is the Absolute Best One You Can Buy

I am a bit of an olive oil snob. I’ll mentally hiss at any olive oil that’s not been cold-pressed. I wouldn’t dream of keeping my go-to bottle anywhere near the stove. And I just need my olive oil to have that peppery zip that makes me cough a little upon first taste. That’s why I’m never without my one true olive oil love: Trader Joe’s Sicilian Selezione.

Fruity, peppery, a bit floral, a bit grassy, the Sicilian Selezione is the best bang for your buck and stands out amongst the wide selection Trader Joe’s offers. Believe me, I’ve tried them all — in the past, I’ve been swayed by the cute, spouted bottles from California and golden, unfiltered oils from Spain and Greece, but the Sicilian Selezione now gets the olive branch crown from me. 

The Sicilian Selezione truly brightens up even the most basic recipe. I’ve been known to use it when making granola in lieu of canola oil for unexpected spice, or when I’m roasting veggies. I also use this stuff when the quality of the olive oil truly counts — in rosemary and peach-studded focaccia bread, for dipping bread with a spice blend (like an Herbes de Provence or Za’atar), to dress a salad, or, my favorite, on toast with ricotta or Nutella and sea salt. 

My point? For the love of all that is oily and delicious, if you’re going to buy a single bottle of olive oil at Trader Joe’s, please make it this one. The good news is that it’s only $8 so you won’t feel like you have to be precious with it and save it. Although you shouldn’t save your expensive olive oil, either. It is not like wine, and it will only further deteriorate in quality the longer you have it. Buy a bottle now and use it up. And then, buy a second bottle. Then a third. At that point, summer should be here and you can use this liquid gold on in-season tomatoes with a sprinkling of za’atar.

What’s your favorite brand of olive oil? Share your favorites in the comments.