Olive oil tasting glasses

Olive oil tasting glasses, with a tulip shape and blue glass, are essential for professional olive oil tasting, standardized by the International Olive Council.

About this subject

Olive oil tasting glasses are standardized instruments for the sensory analysis of virgin olive oils. Their tulip shape, with a wide base and narrow opening, concentrates the aromas released when the oil is warmed in the taster's palm. The blue (or amber) glass is intentional: it prevents the taster from being influenced by the oil's color, ensuring impartial visual evaluation. This design was developed by the International Olive Council (IOC), the body that governs olive oil tasting standards worldwide.

During a tasting, the oil is heated to about 28°C inside the glass, which is covered with a glass lid for a few minutes to trap volatile compounds. The taster then tilts, swirls, and brings the nose to the center, inhaling deeply. This olfactory phase identifies positive attributes like fruity, grassy, bitter, and pungent, as well as defects such as winey, musty, or rancid. The blue glass hides the oil's color, which could lead to biased expectations about flavor and quality.

The glasses are used by certified tasting panels, laboratories, and international competitions. Each glass typically holds about 15 ml of oil. The glass material is chosen for its neutrality, odor resistance, and ease of cleaning between samples. Standardization is so strict that the IOC specifies even the weight (approximately 200 grams) and glass thickness. Clear glass versions exist, but blue ones are mandatory in official analyses.

Interestingly, before the adoption of the blue tasting glass, tasters used common cups or wine glasses, leading to inconsistent results. The standardized glass revolutionized the objectivity of olive oil sensory analysis, making it comparable and repeatable across different labs and countries. Today, it is a symbol of technical rigor and the culture of quality olive oil.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are olive oil tasting glasses blue?

The blue or amber glass hides the oil's color, preventing the taster from being visually influenced and allowing unbiased evaluation of aroma, flavor, and texture.

What is the standard capacity of an olive oil tasting glass?

The standard capacity is about 15 ml of oil, enough to warm and swirl without spilling.

How is the glass prepared for tasting?

The glass is warmed in the palm for a few minutes, covered with a glass lid to trap aromas, then tilted and swirled to release volatiles before sniffing.