- Rarum
- The Ritual
Rituals are essentially emotional journeys.
Remember that smell and taste are known to activate those mysterious paths of the mind which lead to memories, to dreams, to the deeper things that define each one of us.
This is how the inner journey begins!
Taking the time to mindfully enjoy a cup of coffee, a glass of wine or an olive oil are our own private rituals - TIME that we need to allow ourselves, in order to make sense of the world around and within us.
With olive oil, as with other foods and spices, taking the TIME to perform a few steps to open up our perception is also a way of acknowledging the care and attention which have been invested through its entire creation process.
A few practical tips for tasting your Rarum® Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
Before and between tastings, you should clear your tongue.
A sip of water, like in the case of coffee is not enough. When tasting extra virgin olive oil one should use a slice of apple to clear one's tongue and throat.
It may sound counter-intuitive, we know, but just try it - it will not change the perception of the EVOO taste and it will bring out the best of your Rarum !
The Glass
The handcrafted, dark coloured glasses, standardized by the International Olive Council since 1987, are used by the professional tasters of extra virgin olive oil.
Their shape helps release the flavors, and their colour shades the color of the oil so it doesn't influence our perception - colour is not an indication of quality in an Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
You will receive your very own tasting glass by ordering the Rarum® bottle with tasting kit.
The Steps
Step 1
After pouring some of your RARUM® Extra Virgin Olive Oil in the tasting glass, cover it with the palm of your hand while holding the glass in the other.
Step 2
Then swirl the glass for a while, to give the EVOO time to warm up and to release all its flavours. The optimal tasting temperature is of about 27° Celsius.
Step 3
Uncover the glass and, as in the case of the wine tastings, inhale the flavors.
Step 4
Take a first slurp, spraying the EVOO in your mouth. This way the EVOO will be aired and it will touch all the different sensitive parts of your tongue.
Step 5
Then you swallow.
The bitterness you will feel on the V of your tongue and the pungency in the throat come from some of the most powerful antioxidants in nature. They are an indication of quality in our olive oil.
Repeat the process as many times as you feel that your senses are awake. Each time your experience will be slightly different, as your brain starts perceiving more and more of the oil's complexity.
Remember that each one of us perceives the flavours in his or her own way. This is a very personal experience.
So don't look for some specific flavors, which are commonly believed to be found in an olive oil.
The almond, the spices, the fruitiness are all there but they take each one of us on his or her own journey. Pay attention to the journey, enjoy it each step of the way!
And give it TIME. For all things good in life, TIME is of the essence.
