Trader Joe's has a reputation for offering good food at affordable prices, but we all know that when it comes to olive oil, price and label often don't mean much when it comes to quality. The experts at Truth in Olive Oil tested a bunch of the store's oils, and picked a great bargain buy that's only $9 per liter.
The team tested all of the various Trader Joe's branded oils, including Trader José's 100% Spanish Organic, Trader Giotto's Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and Trader Giotto's 100% Italian President's Reserve. The bottom line? The plain Trader Joe's 100% Greek Kalamata Extra Virgin Olive Oil wasn't just delicious, it's also a steal, at only $8.99/liter, making it cheaper than some of the other worse-performing bottles on the list.
The guide offers tasting notes and thoughts about the "best buy" dates for each of the oils at the link below, and they're all a good read, since he explains what to look for in a good oil versus an oil that's already defective (like a vinegary-winey flavor, or over "earthy" flavors, both of which indicate that bottle of extra virgin may not be as extra virgin as it claims to be), but here's the bottom line from his tests:
The Good News: The Premium 100% Greek Kalamata was quite good at an excellent price, and two other oils – the California Estate and the Premium Extra Virgin – were authentic extra virgins and good values. (Details on each oil below.)
The Bad News: I was sorry to see that Trader Joe's sometimes plays the same marketing bait and switch as many other supermarkets. One of the oils was labeled "Trader Giotto's" and "packed in Italy," yet in fine print in back, lasered onto the glass, was the message that it was a blend of "oils from Italy, Spain, Greece, Tunisia". None of the bottles mentioned the specific place where the olives were grown, the name of the grower, or the harvest date, all of which consumers should know. In 4 of 6 products, the olive cultivar was not identified, likewise important information. Also, in all but 1 case the Best By Date (BBD) was much too distant: even the good oils I tasted will go bad long before they reach these dates.
Worst of all, 3 out of the 6 oils I tasted were defective, meaning that they shouldn't be labeled "extra virgin" in the first place.
So it's either really good, or pretty bad. On the bright side, the really good is really good, and it's a great buy for the dollar. Hit the link below to read more.
Trader Joe's Extravirgins (and Floozies) | Truth in Olive Oil via The Kitchn
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