Official IOC Olive Oil Tasting Glasses, Set of 6

About These Glasses

These are cobalt blue tasting glasses produced to the official International Olive Council specification for the sensory evaluation of olive oil. They are also referred to colloquially as “blue glasses” or, by my Italian colleagues as assaggiaolio.

Every aspect of their manufacture was developed to faithfully realize the IOC specification and meet the exacting requirements of millers, sensory scientists, tasting panels, judges, educators, olive oil sommeliers, tasting room operators, and serious enthusiasts.

For more than sixteen years, serious tasters throughout the United States, Argentina, South Africa, Canada, and Japan have relied upon the technical consistency and craftsmanship of our glassware.

This item ships UPS Ground from our facility in Corning, California.

Who Is This Glass For?

These glasses were developed primarily for people who evaluate olive oil professionally or who aspire to professional standards of tasting.

They are especially well suited for:

• professional tasting panels
• olive oil judges
• millers
• sensory scientists
• educators
• olive oil sommeliers and sommelier students
• tasting room operators
• culinary schools
• serious enthusiasts wishing to learn the IOC method

If your primary interest is simply enjoying olive oil with dinner, this specialized glass is probably more equipment than you need. If, however, you wish to understand olive oil as professionals do, you will appreciate why every dimension of the glass has been carefully specified.

Faithfully Realizing the IOC Specification

In 2010, I drew upon decades of experience developing private-label products for major American retailers to find a manufacturing partner capable of producing mouth-blown, hand-finished glassware to an exacting standard. Beyond craftsmanship alone, the factory needed to produce cobalt blue glass, meet stringent U.S. food-contact requirements, and demonstrate the consistency necessary for professional sensory evaluation.

Just as importantly, the factory needed to demonstrate responsible labor practices. Glassmaking is physically demanding work carried out in an extremely hot environment, making worker safety and operating standards every bit as important as the quality of the finished product.

Once those requirements had been met, exclusive molds were commissioned for this project and the first prototype glasses were manufactured. The International Olive Council established the specification, and my responsibility was to ensure that that specification was faithfully realized in production.

I evaluated the prototypes myself before placing them in the hands of some of the most respected sensory professionals in the olive oil world. Independent assessments were provided by specialists at the UC Davis Olive Center, Masters of Judges representing both the Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition and Olive Japan, and the Australian and Californian co-founders of the Extra Virgin Alliance.

Their role was to help determine whether the official specification had been faithfully realized as professional tasting equipment. Shape, balance, weight, comfort in the hand, consistency from glass to glass, and overall suitability for rigorous sensory evaluation were all considered. Their assessments informed my judgment, and I retained final responsibility for approving the glass for production.

Only after that review was complete did I authorize the first production run.

More than sixteen years later, these glasses continue to be used by educators, tasting panels, research institutions, mills, and professional competitions throughout North America and abroad.

Details

Six tasting glasses produced to the official International Olive Council specification for the sensory analysis of olive oil, presented in a boxed set.

• Produced to IOC specification COI/T.20/Doc. No. 5/Rev. 2
• Mouth-blown and hand-finished from cobalt blue soda glass
• Dark blue color prevents visual bias during evaluation
• Shape conforms to the IOC specification and fits naturally in the taster’s hand
• Glass is neutral and does not impart aroma
• Narrow opening is designed to concentrate oil aromas
• Rim is smooth and tapered for comfort, rather than finished with a heavy beaded edge
• Base is sized and weighted for professional thermostatic heating units
• Dishwasher safe
• Independently tested to meet U.S. FDA and California Proposition 65 requirements for leachable lead and cadmium
• Watch glass covers sold separately

International Shipping

Although I do not currently ship olive oil or other food products overseas, I can arrange international shipment of sensory supplies. Please write to Liz@AmericanOliveFarmer.com for assistance.

Canada: Canadian buyers should contact our authorized agent, Emily Lycopolus, at emily@oliveoilcritic.com.