EVOO Tasting: From Novice to Connoisseur in a Day.
Training · EVOO tasting
Programme → The day → The trainer → FAQ →
Intensive course · Granada · Saturday 5 Sept 2026
Learn from someone who has spent a decade training professional tasters from half the world. 35–40 oils in the glass, the official panel method, fifteen places and lunch included.
Book a place — from €259 + VAT → See the programme →
Oils in the glass 35–40
Duration 10 H
Method IOC/EU PANEL
Places left 13 OF 15
Why an intensive course
A tasting teaches you to enjoy. This course teaches you to judge.
Tasting at the olive oil shop · €39
90 minutes, 5–8 oils
An afternoon to discover extra virgin olive oil Perfect as an experience or a gift No tasting sheet, no defects, no exam
This course
Intensive course · from €259 + VAT
10 hours, 35–40 oils
Real defects in the glass: fusty, winey, rancid Standardised tasting sheet and IOC/EU panel method Varieties, singular and flavoured oils, compared Lunch included and a certificate at the end
Programme · 6 modules
From defect to singular oil
Every concept is shown in the glass: first the fact, then the sensation. Nobody leaves without having smelled a rancid oil — and without being able to say why it is rancid.
01
Olive oil tasting
The panel method: blue glass, temperature, short sniffs and the tasting sheet. Why tasting is done blind.
02
Defects
Fusty, winey, rancid and musty, in the glass. Recognising them is what separates an extra virgin from everything else.
03
Positive attributes
Fruitiness, bitterness and pungency as virtues. Intensities, balance and how to score them on the sheet.
04
Varieties
Picual, Hojiblanca, Arbequina and more: the sensory profile of each variety and how to identify it blind.
05
Singular oils
Early harvest, limited editions, extreme profiles. What makes an oil singular and what that is worth.
06
Flavoured oils
Seasoned and infused oils: how they are made, how they are tasted and when they make sense.
The day · Saturday 5 Sept
Ten hours with a glass in your hand
The schedule is a guide — the pace is set by the glasses and the group.
09:00
Professional tasting room · C. Paz 12
19:00
Morning · Session 1
≈16 oils in the glass
Training the nose
Panel method and calibration Defects: fusty, winey, rancid Attributes: fruitiness, bitterness, pungency
Midday · Break
Lunch at the olive oil shop
Included in the price. A break to rest the palate before the afternoon session.
Afternoon · Session 2
≈20 oils in the glass
Sharpening your judgement
Varieties compared blind Singular and flavoured oils Final tasting and certificates
Included
35–40 oils from the current season Official tasting glass and standardised sheets Lunch at the olive oil shop Certificate of attendance
Edition full Full refund up to 7 days before
The trainer
"If an oil doesn't tell a story on the nose, it never makes it to the shelf."
Mercedes Uceda Professional taster · Co-founder of Molino & Cata
Biologist (University of Granada) and tasting expert (University of Jaén). Every year she teaches tasting to the students of the University of Jaén's Expert Course in Virgin Olive Oil Tasting, to the advanced courses of the Olive Grove and Oil Interpretation Centre and to IFAPA (Junta de Andalucía), and she coordinates the UNIA tasting courses.
Lead judge at competitions such as Evooleum, Ovibeja, LA IOOC and Alcuza. Every oil in the shop goes through her glass first, blind.
Lecturer UJA · IFAPA · Olivar y Aceite · Coordinator of UNIA tasting courses · Judge Evooleum · Ovibeja · LA IOOC
Verified reviews of the olive oil shop
What people who already taste with Mercedes say
4.88 out of 5 · 230 verified reviews We publish every review — including the ones we would rather not read.
"Very well organised tastings and an atmosphere that invites you to learn and enjoy without rushing." Miguel Soto López · Verified purchase
"Letting Mercedes and Jero advise you is a great call. If you're in Granada, don't miss the chance to meet them." Cristina Cintrano Montes · Verified purchase
Just want a taste?
Olive oil tasting in Granada — 90 min
If you are looking for a one-off tasting experience rather than training: 5–8 extra virgin olive oils with Mercedes at the olive oil shop, from €39.
For teams
Training for HORECA and distribution
Tailor-made courses for front-of-house teams, sommeliers, buyers and sales staff, using the official IOC/EU panel methodology.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do I need previous tasting experience?
No. It is an introductory course: we start with what an extra virgin is and how to use the glass. The intensive pace means it is also worthwhile for people who already work in the sector.
Which oils are tasted?
Between 35 and 40 samples: oils with controlled defects (fusty, winey, rancid), green and ripe fruity oils from different varieties, singular and flavoured oils. All from the latest season.
Is lunch included?
Yes. We stop at midday and eat together at the olive oil shop. Let us know about any allergies or dietary restrictions when you book.
Where is the course held?
In the professional tasting room of our olive oil shop: C. Paz, 12, in central Granada, 3 minutes from the Cathedral. Parking Paz is right opposite.
Is it suitable for professionals in the sector?
Yes. The method is that of the official tasting panel and the number of samples is at professional-training level. Mills, technicians and hospitality staff leave with judgement they can apply from Monday.
Is there a certificate?
We give a certificate of attendance and achievement issued by Molino & Cata at the end of the day.
What if I can't attend after paying?
Up to 7 days before, we refund the full amount or keep your place for the next edition. After that, your place can be transferred to someone else.
Is it guaranteed to go ahead?
Yes. The 5 September edition is confirmed — it does not depend on reaching a minimum group size.
Do I need to bring anything?
Nothing. Glasses, sheets, oils and materials are on us. Just one taster's tip: on the day, avoid perfume and coffee right before the sessions.
Can I get an invoice?
Yes. We issue an invoice with VAT itemised — give us your tax details when booking or write to hello@molinoycata.com.
What language is it taught in?
In Spanish. If you are coming as a group and need another language, write to us and we will look at it as tailor-made training.
Booking · First edition
Fifteen places. One room. Forty oils waiting.
Saturday 5 Sept 2026 · C. Paz 12 · Granada
This edition is full.
Write to us and we will let you know personally when we open the next edition.