Extra virgin olive oil (EVO) is a precious ingredient, fundamental to Mediterranean and global food culture since ancient times. Often taken for granted, it actually hides a complex aromatic universe, rich in surprising notes and unique health benefits.
Anyone who has tasted a truly excellent olive oil knows how unexpected it can be: fresh grass? Artichoke? Banana? Tomato leaf? Learning to recognize quality oil isn't easy—the differences between a mediocre and an excellent EVO can be subtle, yet crucial. To detect them, we need to train our sense of smell—the key player in tasting. That’s where TasterPlace’s Olive Oil Aroma Collection comes in: an innovative sensory tool designed to educate your nose and help you select, pair, and truly appreciate extra virgin olive oil.
The Importance of Smell in Olive Oil Tasting
When we taste any food, it's our nose that first tells us what we’re about to experience. Yet, smell is the sense we train the least. Have you ever tried drinking coffee or eating bread with your nose blocked? Everything tastes flat.
In the case of EVO, olfactory analysis is essential to evaluate its freshness, origin, processing method, and even possible defects.
The Olive Oil Aroma Collection helps you:
-
Recognize different aroma notes tied to olive varieties, production regions, and processing methods.
-
Develop a “critical” nose, able to identify strengths and flaws in olive oil.
-
Appreciate high-quality oil and make informed choices based on your personal taste and culinary use.
Among the first descriptors to learn are: freshly cut grass, artichoke, tomato leaf, almond, ripe or unripe fruit, floral or spicy notes. But how can you recognize them without ever training your nose? That’s exactly the role of this collection.
What’s Inside the Collection
At the heart of the Olive Oil Aroma Collection is a guidebook curated by olive oil experts, panel leaders, and sensory training professionals. This manual provides key insights into the aromatic world of EVO oil—from its characteristics and health benefits to its use in the kitchen, and the basics of tasting: smell, taste, mouthfeel, aromatic qualities, and potential flaws.
A special focus is placed on olfactory training: how to perceive aromas, recognize both scents and defects, and use the included aroma vials effectively.
Perfect for beginners and seasoned enthusiasts alike.
The set includes 12 sealed aroma vials meant for olfactory use only—do not ingest. Smell them “blind”, as in professional tasting sessions. These aromas help sharpen your sense of smell, build a shared vocabulary among tasters, and identify both positive notes and flaws.
Included Aromas
Positive Notes:
-
Green grass
-
Artichoke
-
Tomato leaf
-
Aromatic herbs
-
Apple
-
Banana
-
Citrus
-
Flowers
-
Almond and dried fruits
Common Defects:
-
Rancid (oxidation)
-
Musty (storage issues)
-
Lees sediment (uncleared residues)
Training with these scents helps enhance appreciation of good EVO and recognize altered or subpar oils. Ideal for courses, schools, and guided tastings, the collection is also suited for educational settings.
Customizable and Educational
The aroma set can be personalized for businesses, schools, or individuals. With a single tool, entire groups can learn to recognize aromas, compare profiles, and describe sensations using a common language.
The Olive Oil Aroma Collection is an invitation to rediscover the hidden value in a single spoonful of oil. It’s training not just for the nose, but for the mind and the palate too.
Train your nose. Choose consciously. Truly appreciate extra virgin olive oil.