What is the first country that springs to mind when you think of the world’s best extra virgin olive oil? If your answer was Italy, think again.

Spain is the world leader when it comes to olive oil production. The country is also the world’s largest exporter and consumer of this delectable gourmet product that is sometimes referred to as liquid gold.

Olive Oil Tastes Good And Is Good For You

The word “oil” may not sound like something that would be particularly good for you, but it all depends on what type you are using. When it comes to olive oil, there are three grades: refined, virgin and extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). The latter, which is the least processed of them all, packs a heart-healthy punch due to its high concentration of antioxidants and “good” High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. EVOO also plays a crucial part in the Mediterranean diet, which is believed to be a key reason for the extended healthy life expectancy enjoyed by people in countries like Spain and Italy.

Better still, great-quality EVOO is a delicious complement to a multitude of dishes. Choose the right one and it will not only elevate your cooking and enhance the flavor of your food, but also impress your dinner guests!

The Best Extra Virgin Olive Oil From Spain

From mild, fruity Arbequinas to powerful, herbacious Picuals and complex, spicy Hojiblancas, here are eight fantastic olive oils from Spain for your favorite gourmand.

Blue Jewel Extra Virgin Olive Oil by 1490

Made from 100% Hojiblanca olives grown on an ancient family estate in Córdoba in southern Spain, this premium oil by 1490 is made from olives that are cold pressed at the peak of their freshness. A fruity green oil, it is sweet and complex with flavors of apple, hay and tomato. As for the blue ceramic bottle, it is inspired by the color of the skies in the Córdoba countryside, where the rolling hills are covered with Hojiblanca olive trees. The name, 1490, refers to the year the family bought the estate, as documented in a recently recovered 500-year-old charter.

Llàgrimes del Canigó with chilis, garlic and peppers

This bold, flavor-packed EVOO, infused with chili, garlic and pimiento, is guaranteed to make any dish pop. The richly aromatic and well-balanced oil is made from cold-extracted Argudell olives cultivated in the fields of the Gironès region of Catalonia. As for the spicy flavor, it comes from an optimal balance of bird’s eye chili, the garlic from the garden of Padre de Jesús, who has been planting his Banyoles garlic for more than 40 years, as well as black pepper, white pepper, allspice, pink pepper and green pepper. Drizzle it on pizza, pasta, meat or salad for an addictively punchy finish.

Mas Tarrés Extra Virgin Olive Oil PDO Siurana

Members of the Solé family have been making olive oil since 1825, and their experience shows in the multi-award-winning Mas Tarrés. This fruity, tasty extra virgin olive oil from the hills of Catalonia is made from 100% sweet, nutty Arbequina olives. It has flavors of green apples, herbs and roasted almonds, very low acidity and not a hint of bitterness, making it the perfect complement for salads and sautéed vegetables. Mas Tarrés is packaged in appealing whiskey bottles with dark glass to safeguard the oil’s delicate flavor balance and health-promoting characteristics.

Aubocassa

Made on a 12th-century estate in Manacor on the idyllic island of Mallorca, Aubocassa is a premium EVOO with a fresh, fruity and delicately spicy flavor. The Balearic Islands off the coast of mainland Spain are like a Mediterranean summertime fantasy come true, but they are also known for producing some rather fine gourmet ingredients, like oil, wine, cheese and salt. Aubocassa, made from cold-extracted Arbequina olives, has a yellowish-green hue and clean, invigorating aromas of citrus and freshly cut grass.

Masia El Altet High Quality Olive Oil

This powerfully aromatic premium EVOO is made just a few miles from from the Mediterranean, in a stunningly serene landscape on the outskirts of the beachfront city of Alicante. The team behind Masia El Altet takes great pride in cultivating indigenous olive tree varieties, as evidenced by this blend of 60% Picual, 20% Arbequina, and 20% Genovesa, Blanqueta and Alfafarenca, native to the area. Expect a taste that is both sweet and dense, with a perfect balance of spicy and bitter notes. Masia el Altet pairs well with salads, grilled vegetables or grilled fish.

Torres El Silencio Arbequina

Made by one of Spain’s most renowned winemaking dynasties, the Torres family, El Silencio is an extra virgin olive oil made of Arbequina olives from the 400+-year-old olive trees on the Purgatori Estate. The name of the estate comes from an ancient myth about the monks who arrived in the arid Costers del Segre region in the 18th century to do penance. With not much else to keep them occupied, they started making wine and, when barrels began to mysteriously go missing, they blamed it on the angels who were allegedly taking them up to heaven. El Silencio has an intense aroma, with hints of artichoke and green apple.

Belvís de Las Navas Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil

This certified organic EVOO is made from heirloom olive varietals from centuries old olive trees harvested from the terraced hillsides near the Spanish seaside town of Marbella. This is a one-of-a-kind olive oil that blends native varieties, including some that had never been documented before the Yturbe family rediscovered them on their estate. Varietals like Hojiblanca, la Zorzaleña, la Manzanilla Aloreña or Verdial Vélez – Málaga, all of which are picked by hand and pressed to create an exceptional oil with great aromatic complexity. Try it with freshly baked bread or on a salad to maximize the flavor sensation.

Morellana Organic Picual

This 100% Picual EVOO is made by Sucesores de Hermanos Lopez, a family-run business that has been making oil in its mill outside Córdoba for six generations. Morellana is a medium-intensity organic extra virgin olive oil with a fruity aroma of green apple, fig and banana. It is complex and harmonious, with herbaceous notes of freshly cut grass and pairs particularly well with grilled meat or roasted vegetables.