How we select oils
464 samples tasted. 43 in the shop.
Mercedes Uceda tastes every oil before it enters the shop and tastes every new batch again. If it doesn't pass the tasting, it is not sold.
- 2025/26 campaign
- Early harvest extra virgin only
- Tasting in the official IOC cup
- Direct purchase, at the mill price
2025/26 campaign
For every ten oils, one makes it in.
- 464samples tasted
- 43oils selected for the shop
- 9 %of the samples pass the tasting
Source: Mercedes Uceda's tasting records, 2025/26 campaign.
The method
From the sample to the shelf.
Taste
Mercedes tastes every reference in the official IOC cup and evaluates its persistence, complexity, and harmony.
Decide
Mercedes scores every oil and decides which ones make it to the shelf. If there is a defect, it is not accepted.
Buy directly
From the producer, without intermediaries. You pay the same price as at the mill.
Taste again
Every new batch. When the campaign changes, we remove everything and select again from scratch.
Criteria
What makes it into the shop and what doesn't.
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Extra virgin onlyNo other category of oil enters the shop.
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Early harvest onlyOlives harvested green, with more fruitiness, bitterness, and spiciness.
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Only the current campaignWhen the campaign changes, we remove all previous references.
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Evaluation of every batchAlso of the new batch of an oil we already sell.
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Mill priceYou pay the same price as at the mill, without a tourist area surcharge.
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No intermediariesNo importer, no distributor, no dropshipping.
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Own brand: MOCAOur everyday oil and some batches selected by Mercedes.
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Tasting before buyingIn the oil shop, we open the oils and advise you without obligation.
Frequently asked questions
About the selection.
How many oils do you taste each campaign?
In the 2025/26 campaign, 464 samples. 43 made it in.
Who tastes?
Mercedes Uceda, a judge at Evooleum, Ovibeja, Los Angeles IOOC, and the Alcuza Awards. Marino Uceda, former head of the IFAPA tasting panel, helps her select. Mercedes's profile.
Why early harvest only?
Green olives yield less oil, but more fruitiness, bitterness, and spiciness. It is the oil we stand by.
And when a new batch arrives?
Every new batch is tasted again before being put on sale.
Can I send my oil?
Yes. Tell us about your mill and your varieties, and send a sample. Sell with us.
Taste it and compare