Extra virgin olive oil at 3.99 euros a litre: Monini and Coricelli share the same odour (cat wee):
“Over the last few days, the same offer has been on. Different brands but effectively the same extra virgin olive oil: Monini at €3.99 per litre at IperCoop and Coricelli at €3.99 per litre at Esselunga.
We’ve put Teatro Naturale ’s accounts in the red and bought both bottles.
Technically, it’s the same oil. The chemical differences in the basic parameters (acidity, peroxides, spectrophotometry) are minimal. From an organoleptic point of view, both reveal the same origin in equal measure: Spain. Personally, I identify this odour (cat wee) as an organoleptic defect caused by heating.
But let’s get to the question of all questions: are they extra virgin olive oils? Legally, probably yes. Certainly from a chemical point of view. From an organoleptic point of view, given the current rules, it is likely that, even if an Italian panel downgrades an oil, a counter-analysis by a Spanish panel would overturn the final result from a legal and administrative standpoint.
Of course, domestic production has much more to offer.
Drafted on 27 September, updated on 30 September 2026
