Olive oil is a necessity for most people who love cooking. Today, a wide variety of brands and olive oil products are on the market. Pompeian has been around for a long time, while California Olive Ranch is a lot younger. But what’s the difference between the two brands and their products? Is one of them more affordable or tastier than the other? Let’s get into it!
Pompeian
Pompeian is known for bringing affordable extra virgin olive oil products (imported from Spain) to the American market. In addition, the company also sells standard olive oils, various kinds of vinegar, rapeseed oils, and cooking sprays.
Pompeian has a rich tradition and pride in what it produces and sells. The history of olive oil in America would not have been the same without this company.
But how does their oil hold up to the competition?
Pompeian’s Olive Oil – What’s available?
Pompeian has an extensive range of olive oil products
- Extra Virgin Olive Oils: Fresh & Fruit, Robust, Smooth, Organic, Bold
- Olive Oils: light taste, mild taste, rich taste
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil cook spray (robust)
With that selection, there’s olive oil for all purposes, whether you want to make a nice stir-fry, mix a tasty salad dressing, or create a lovely marinade.
Where To Buy Pompeian?
Pompeian is one of the most popular olive oil brands in the USA, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a grocery store that does NOT sell it. In addition to grocery stores, you can also find Pompeian olive oils in stores like Walmart, Target, Kroger, Safeway, and BJs.
Of course, Pompeian olive oils can also be ordered online via Amazon, Amazon Fresh, and other online stores that offer home delivery of grocery items. You can find plenty of options on Amazon by heading over to Pompeian’s own Amazon page.
Pompeian Olive Oil Ingredients and Nutritional Facts
Pompeian olive oil’s only ingredient is olives. These are first cold-pressed and then turned into olive oil.
As you expect, olive oil is high in fat and calories. One serving of Pompeian Smooth Extra Virgin olive oil is 15ml, which equals one tablespoon.
One serving includes:
- 120 calories
- 14g fat
And there isn’t much more to say about olive oil. There are no minerals or vitamins.
California Olive Ranch
California Olive Ranch isn’t as old and traditional as Pompeian but has achieved a lot since its founding in 1998.
The company has won well over 200 awards for its olive oils in just 20 years – which means they win an average of 10 awards each year.
California Olive Ranch – What’s available?
While Pompeian has an excellent range of olive oils, a quick look at California Olive Ranch’s webshop makes it obvious that this brand has more options, and some of them are more interesting than what Pompeian has to offer. Let’s check out the range.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: 100% California, 100% Italian, Everyday Argentinian, Global Blends in various strengths, Organic Premium, Organic Everyday, and quite a few more.
- Olive Oil Blends: Garden Basil, Garlic, Robust Garlic, Delicate Lemon
- Culinary Blends: Almond, Avocado, Walnut
- Reserve Collections: Arbequina, Arbosana, Miller’s Blend
From baking or grilling to sauteing, there’s olive oil for every possible purpose. The olive oil blends are very nice and add extra flavor to dishes.
Where To Buy California Olive Ranch?
While California Olive Ranch is not quite as widespread as Pompeian, you should find the products in most grocery stores, Walmart, some convenience stores, Target, and other stores that sell groceries.
If you plan on regularly using California Olive Ranch products, I recommend shopping from their website. You can even set up a subscription (easy to pause and cancel) to save on their products.
Of course, if you first want to test the oils and get them quickly, Amazon is a great option. California Olive Ranch’s shop on Amazon enables you to get your hand on most of their products.
California Olive Ranch Ingredients and Nutritional Facts
Let’s see how California Olive Ranch’s extra virgin olive oil compares to Pompeian’s nutritional values. The ingredient is the same: olives – no surprise here. Of course, blended oils include other ingredients.
Like Pompeian, one serving of California Olive Ranch EVOO is a tablespoon, i.e., 15ml. But the nutritional values are a tiny little bit different.
- 130 calories
- 14g fat
So, for some reason, you get 10 extra calories in California Olive Ranch’s olive oil.
Let’s Compare
Which Tastes Better?
Not many people can tell the difference between various olive oils. Still, when you focus during a taste test, the result is that California Olive Ranch’s EVOO tastes more complex, with hints of fresh herbs, floral notes, and something grassy (in a pleasant way).
On the other hand, Pompeian is fairly simple – which isn’t bad. It’s good enough for cooking. But if you use olive oil in a way where the olive oil’s taste comes through, California Olive Ranch is the better choice.
Which Is More Affordable?
Considering that some people go through a lot of olive oil in their cooking, affordability is often an important factor. I have compared prices of two products from each brand in various shops to calculate the average price per oz (correct as of February 2023).
| Pompeian | California Olive Ranch | More Affordable | |
| Extra Virgin Olive Oil Smooth | $0.39 per oz | $0.45 per oz | Pompeian |
| Extra Virgin Olive Oil Robust | $0.39 per oz | $0.45 per oz | Pompeian |
Pompeian is known for its great prices, so this result is not much of a surprise. While the difference is not that big, Pompeian does win this round without a doubt.
Final Thoughts
Overall, there is no clear winner. If you value affordability and need a good EVOO for basic cooking, then Pompeian is a good choice.
If you prefer to spend a little more to get a more complex taste experience, there’s no doubt California Olive Ranch has a better lineup of products.
