British supermarkets offer a wide selection of Mediterranean olives, though the variety available reflects only a fraction of the global olive landscape. Recent tastings of several popular supermarket brands reveal a range of flavors and qualities, highlighting noteworthy options alongside some less impressive choices.

Tesco’s Finest Sicilian Nocellara Olives, a premium variety gaining popularity in the UK, were described as briny with buttery and grassy notes. These olives feature smooth flesh and a crisp skin but tend to discolor quickly after opening, affecting their visual appeal. Waitrose’s Mediterranean Olives with Herbes De Provence offer a more flavorful experience, combining fleshy green olives with a strong initial saltiness, blended with herbaceous notes and a touch of oil, earning positive marks for their balance and taste.

Greek-style olives remain a favorite, with Odysea’s Big Kalamata Pitted Olives noted for their large size, meaty texture, and preserved freshness, making them a preferred choice for Greek salads. Waitrose also provides the Sicilian Giarraffa variety, which stood out for its large, bright green fruit and a flavor profile that is buttery yet accented with a salty tang, described as a significant step up from the more common Nocellara.

Grilled olives are gaining traction as an emerging trend. Waitrose’s Greek Grilled Halkidiki Olives, while slightly bitter to some palates and lacking a stronger smoky character, exhibit appealing charring and juiciness, hinting at potential for broader appreciation.

Sainsbury’s range includes Queen Olives with Lemon & Herb and Olly’s Garlic & Basil Halkidiki Olives. The Queen Olives were praised for their size and texture but noted to be quite salty overall. Olly’s offering was highlighted by an initially strong garlic aroma that mellowed into a well-rounded salty olive taste.

Nocellara del Belice olives from both Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference line and Unearthed brand faced criticism for discoloration and a “sweaty” appearance upon opening, though their flavor maintained buttery, sweet, and creamy elements that somewhat offset the visual drawback.

Marks & Spencer’s Grilled Turkish Green Olives combine smoky, fresh, and juicy elements, featuring a marinade infused with red peppers, chili, and garlic that adds complexity to the large, crisp-skinned olives.

Overall, the tasting underscores the diversity and quality of olives available in UK supermarkets, despite some limitations in variety and occasional inconsistencies in appearance. Consumers seeking authentic Mediterranean flavors will find several attractive options, particularly among Sicilian and Greek varieties, as well as emerging grilled styles.