Catalan olive oils tasted in Germany

On Thursday 12 January, Prodeca, with the collaboration of the Catalan Government Delegation to Germany, held in Cologne the first of the guided olive oil tastings for German professionals from agri-food and gastronomy distribution, purchasing managers, restaurateurs and the specialist press, with the aim of showcasing the excellence of Catalan olive oil, its uses and promoting Catalonia as a producing area under the brand "Catalonia, where oil is culture".

The tasting of Catalan olive oils featured 15 guests with various profiles (importers, distributors, purchasing managers, chefs, pastry chefs and specialist food press), who tasted the fifteen Catalan olive oils from the companies previously registered in the German promotional catalogue:

The event was led by Carmen Sánchez, an olive oil sommelier, expert in marketing in the German market and judge at international olive oil competitions, and German chef Hendrik Olfen.

After a welcome from Rosalba Arrufat, head of Prodeca's oil sector, the sommelier introduced the particular features and characteristics of Catalan oils and the sensory assessment of the different extra virgin olive oil categories, and led a tasting of five selected oils from different varieties (arbequina, empeltre and rojal). 

Chef Hendrik Olfen led a culinary tasting showing the different uses of olive oil by quality and variety: each dish used a different oil chosen for that preparation and adapted to German consumers. 

• Celery and chestnut soup with wheat crisp and a hint of fennel (Etim, from Coop. Falset Marçà) 
• Beef tartare with fried-egg brioche (Olicatessen)
• Candied figs with goat's milk foam, bee pollen and caramel crumble (SUÏM, from La cabana d'Alcover SL)
• Bread with chocolate (TERRALL BIO, from El terrall de San Isidre)

The guided tasting tour will continue through 2023 with sessions in Hamburg and Berlin.