Cirulli Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil Review: solid everyday Italian oil in big tins

I’ve been using this Cirulli Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil 3L x2 pack for a few weeks now, mainly for daily cooking and salads. I bought it because I was tired of paying silly prices for 500 ml bottles that vanish in two weeks. Six litres in tins sounded a bit overkill at first, but in practice it fits how I actually use olive oil: a lot, and almost every day. I went into it expecting something decent but not mind-blowing, and that’s pretty much what I got, in a good way.

The first thing I noticed is that it behaves like a proper extra virgin oil: nice smell, clearly fresh, no weird aftertaste. It doesn’t taste like cheap blended stuff you sometimes get in supermarkets. At the same time, it’s not some super intense niche oil that you only want to drizzle on fancy dishes. It sits in the middle: tasty enough for raw use, mild enough for everyday cooking. That balance is what I ended up liking most about it.

Price-wise, it’s not cheap, especially compared to the absolute budget supermarket oils, but when you break it down per litre it’s still more reasonable than a lot of branded glass bottles. With the current olive oil price hikes everywhere, this feels like a compromise: not the bargain of the century, not a rip-off either. If they push the price up much more, I’d probably start looking elsewhere, but at the level I paid, it’s acceptable for organic Italian oil.

So overall, my first impression after a few days was: solid quality, practical format if you use a lot of oil, a bit of a hit upfront on the wallet. Not some magical product that changes your life, but it does its job well. The rest of this review is just breaking down what works, what’s annoying, and whether I’d actually buy it again once these two tins are empty.

On taste, this Cirulli oil sits in a comfortable middle ground. It’s fruity with a bit of bitterness and a light peppery kick at the back of the throat, but nothing aggressive. When I tried it straight on a spoon, it felt smooth and round enough that you can actually drink a small amount, like one of the Amazon reviewers said they do. It doesn’t burn or scratch the throat like some very intense oils, but you still feel that small tingle that tells you it’s real extra virgin and not some neutral-tasting mix.

On salads, it does a good job. I tested it on a simple tomato and mozzarella plate, and on a green salad with lemon and salt. In both cases, the oil added a nice fruity note without dominating the other ingredients. I also used it on grilled vegetables and pasta, and it blended in nicely. If you want an oil that screams its presence and gives a very strong character to a dish, this might feel a bit tame. But for most home cooking, this more balanced taste is actually easier to live with.

For cooking on low to medium heat, it behaves well. I’ve used it for sautéing onions, cooking eggs, and roasting vegetables at around 180°C. The taste holds up fine and doesn’t go weird or too bitter. I wouldn’t waste it for deep-frying, but for normal pan or oven cooking it’s totally fine. The label and some reviews insist on low heat, and I agree: it’s a bit of a waste to cook it at very high temperatures all the time when the raw taste is actually nice.

Compared to cheaper supermarket EVOOs I’ve tried, this one tastes cleaner and more natural. The cheap ones often have a flat or almost plasticky aftertaste; this doesn’t. Compared to very pricey niche oils, it’s less complex and less intense, but also less fussy. So if you want one oil that can handle both salads and general cooking without being boring or too strong, this is a pretty solid option. Not mind-blowing, but genuinely pleasant to use every day.

Let’s talk money, because that’s a big part of this product. Olive oil prices have gone up a lot in the last couple of years, and this Cirulli pack is no exception. It’s not cheap when you look at the total price, but you’re getting 6 litres of organic Italian EVOO. If you break it down per litre, it usually comes out cheaper than buying decent 500 ml bottles from well-known brands at the supermarket, especially if you buy those in the “organic” or “Italian only” category.

Compared to really budget supermarket EVOO, yes, this is more expensive. If your only goal is the lowest price and you don’t care much about taste or origin, those will beat it. But compared to other organic, unfiltered, clearly Italian oils, this Cirulli sits in a middle zone: not the cheapest, not the most expensive. A few brands have gone completely overboard with pricing since 2022, almost doubling or tripling. This one still feels high but not outrageous in that context. If they keep creeping the price up though, it will start to feel less attractive.

Where the value makes sense is if you actually use a lot of olive oil: big salads, roasting vegetables, daily cooking, maybe even taking a spoonful for health. In that case, the bulk format saves you from constantly buying new bottles, and the cost per litre is easier to justify. If you’re the type who only finishes a 500 ml bottle every three months, this pack is overkill and the oil might sit around too long after opening, which is a waste both for quality and for money.

So for me, the value is: pretty solid for heavy users who care about organic and decent taste, just okay for occasional users, and not ideal if you’re on a tight budget and don’t mind compromising on origin or organic status. It’s not a bargain, but considering current market prices and the quality you get, I’d say the price is fair enough to justify a repeat purchase, as long as it doesn’t jump much higher.

The design of the tins is classic metal olive oil style: rectangular, tall, and fairly heavy once full. Each tin holds 3 litres and weighs a bit over 3 kg, so you feel it when you lift it. The metal is standard thickness: not flimsy like a drink can, but not ultra-rugged either. That’s probably why dents during shipping are pretty common. The top has a pull-up spout area you open the first time, but there’s no fancy tap or built-in pourer, it’s just a basic opening.

In practice, that means this is not the kind of container you pour from directly every day, unless you don’t mind spilling or you’re pouring into a pot on the counter. I quickly switched to using it as a refill station: tin stays in the cupboard, I take it out once a week, refill my smaller bottle with a funnel, and put it back. Used like that, the design is fine. Used as a daily pouring container, it’s a bit annoying and clunky. A small integrated tap at the bottom would have been nice, but of course that would push the price up.

Storage-wise, the rectangular shape is handy. It slots nicely into a cupboard corner, and you can stack other light stuff on top of the box if you keep it in the original packaging. The problem is when the tin arrives dented: then it doesn’t stand perfectly straight, and you end up wedging it between other items so it doesn’t wobble. It’s not a disaster, but it’s the kind of little thing that annoys you each time you open the cupboard.

Visually, the design is pretty basic: some green and white graphics, Italian wording, organic logos. Nothing ugly, nothing special. It looks like what it is: a bulk tin of decent olive oil. If you’re expecting something that looks premium on the counter, this isn’t it. If you just want a format that protects the oil from light and air reasonably well and fits in a cupboard, it gets the job done, with a few quirks.

First thing I do with any olive oil is smell it from a spoon. With this Cirulli oil, the fragrance is clearly on the fruity and fresh side, but not super intense. You get that typical green, slightly grassy olive smell, with a bit of fruitiness. It doesn’t smell flat or stale, which is usually the giveaway of cheap or old oil. Also, there’s no rancid or waxy note, which is something I’ve caught in a few supermarket budget oils. So from a smell perspective, this passes the basic quality check.

Compared to some stronger single-estate oils I’ve tried from small producers, this one is milder. If you’re used to very punchy oils that fill the whole kitchen with smell as soon as you open the bottle, this will feel more moderate. On the other hand, if you live with people who complain when the oil is too strong or peppery, this one is easier to share. I used it on salads, on top of soups, and even just on bread with salt, and the smell was pleasant but never overpowering.

One thing I liked is that the smell stays consistent from the top of the tin to the last refills. I was a bit worried that, because it’s unfiltered and in a big tin, it might oxidise quickly after opening and start smelling off. After a few weeks of use, stored in a dark, cool cupboard and only opened occasionally, the fragrance is still basically the same as day one. So as long as you don’t leave it open or in direct light, it seems stable enough.

If you’re super picky and want a very specific aroma profile, this is probably not the oil that will excite you. But for day-to-day cooking and raw use, the fragrance is clean, pleasant, and clearly better than the cheap blends you find under supermarket own brands. Nothing fancy, just a nice honest olive smell that makes food smell more appetising without taking over everything.

The packaging is one of the main reasons to buy this product, and also one of its weak points. You get two 3L metal tins inside a cardboard box. The good part: metal tins are great for protecting the oil from light and, to some extent, from air. That helps keep the oil fresher for longer compared to clear glass bottles sitting on a sunny kitchen counter. For someone who actually uses a lot of oil, having it in tins makes sense.

The downside is the handling and the shipping. These tins are heavy and fairly tall, and there’s no handle or grip area. When they’re full, moving them around with one hand is awkward. You really need two hands or you risk dropping it, especially if your hands are a bit oily. Also, as some Amazon reviewers mention and as I experienced myself, dents during delivery are quite common. My box looked fine from the outside, but one tin still had a corner dent. No leak, but not ideal either. Amazon customer service can be hit or miss on that, so it’s a bit of a lottery.

Once you accept that these are bulk containers, the sensible way to use them is to refill a smaller bottle. I keep a 500 ml dark glass bottle with a pourer on the counter and top it up from the tin every week or so. For that, you’ll need a funnel, otherwise you’ll end up with oil drips everywhere. The tins reseal reasonably well after opening, but they’re not 100% airtight like a new cap, so I try not to open and close them every day. Stored in a cool, dark place, I haven’t noticed any clear degradation in taste over a few weeks.

So in terms of packaging, I’d say it’s practical for bulk users but not very user-friendly out of the box. If you’re ready to deal with refilling a smaller bottle and you have space in a cupboard, it works well. If you live in a tiny kitchen and only use olive oil occasionally, the format will probably feel like a hassle, and the risk of dents might annoy you more than the savings are worth.

The pack is basically two big 3L tins of organic extra virgin olive oil, so 6 litres total. No fancy extras, no gift box, just a cardboard box with the two tins inside. Mine arrived with one tin slightly dented on a corner, which seems to match some of the Amazon reviews. It didn’t leak and the lid still closed fine, but it doesn’t sit perfectly upright in the cupboard. Functionally it’s okay, visually it looks a bit beaten up. If you’re buying this to display on a nice open shelf, keep that in mind.

The label tells you the basics: organic, unrefined, unfiltered, from Puglia in Italy, and packed by Frantoio Oleario Cirulli. Nothing looks shady or vague, which I appreciate. I don’t see any weird blends or vague “EU/non-EU” wording. It’s clearly marketed as a straight Italian organic EVOO. For someone who cares a bit about origin but isn’t obsessed with micro-details, that’s enough info. If you’re a hardcore olive oil nerd, there’s not a ton of technical data on acidity, harvest date, etc. It’s more “good everyday organic oil” than “collector bottle”.

In day-to-day use, the 3L format is actually pretty practical. I keep one tin stored in a dark cupboard and refill a smaller 500 ml glass bottle that sits on the counter. That way I’m not constantly opening the big tin, and the oil isn’t exposed to light all day. The tin opening is wide enough to pour into a funnel without making a mess, but you do need a funnel or a very steady hand. Straight pouring from the tin into a bottle is asking for trouble.

Overall, the presentation is simple and functional. It’s clearly aimed at people who care more about what’s inside than how it looks on Instagram. The downside is the dent risk during shipping and the slightly awkward size for small kitchens. But if you’re buying 6L of oil, you probably already know you’re going for bulk practicality, not something cute to put on the table.

In practical daily use, this oil does what you want an everyday extra virgin to do: it cooks well, it seasons well, and it doesn’t cause any nasty surprises. I’ve used it almost exclusively for about three weeks, for everything from frying eggs to finishing dishes. Food browns properly, nothing sticks more than usual, and the taste it leaves is consistent. It doesn’t suddenly taste burnt or too bitter when it hits a bit of heat, as long as you stay at low to medium temperatures.

For raw use, I’d say it’s at its best. A drizzle on top of soups, hummus, grilled bread, or just mixed into a quick vinaigrette with lemon or vinegar, and you get that nice fruity note. It’s strong enough that you taste it, but not so strong that every dish tastes the same. I’ve also tried the “shot of olive oil in the morning” thing a couple of times, and it’s mild enough that you can swallow it without making a face. If you’re trying to get more healthy fats in, this oil works fine for that kind of routine.

On the health side, it’s marketed as organic, unrefined, unfiltered, rich in antioxidants, etc. I’m not going to pretend I can measure that myself, but in terms of feel, it’s in line with other decent organic Italian oils I’ve had. No weird heaviness, no aftertaste repeating on you for hours. It’s basically what you’d expect from a decent-quality EVOO used regularly: helps you replace butter or seed oils in a lot of dishes without feeling like a downgrade.

So in terms of effectiveness, for me it’s reliable, versatile, and easy to slot into everyday cooking. It’s not some hyper-specialised oil you only pull out for special occasions, it’s something you can actually finish 6 litres of without getting bored or annoyed. As long as you store it properly and don’t abuse it on very high heat, it performs exactly how you’d want from a mid-range organic Italian EVOO.