Enjoy an intimate experience dedicated to Portuguese olive oil in Alvados, in the heart of the Serras de Aire e Candeeiros Natural Park. In a warm, family-like atmosphere at the host’s home, you will discover how this essential product of the Mediterranean diet can be enjoyed with knowledge, precision, and pleasure—complete with views of the mountains and the unique setting of an ancient olive tree.

The experience begins with a brief introduction to the cultural importance of the olive tree in Portugal and the role of olive oil in cuisine. You will then embark on a guided sensory journey: you will learn about the production process, from olive harvesting to pressing in the mill, and the practices that make a difference to the final quality, such as early harvesting, freshness, and storage.

One of the key aspects of the workshop is learning to read labels correctly (origin, category, harvest, varieties) so that you can make more informed choices in your daily life. The differences between categories such as Extra Virgin, Virgin, and Refined will also be explained, both from a technical and a sensory perspective.

Afterwards, you will take part in a guided technical tasting of 5 award-winning Portuguese extra-virgin olive oils from renowned small producers. Using tasting glasses, you will learn how to warm the olive oil, analyse its aromas, and identify positive attributes such as fruity, bitter, and pungent. For comparison, you will also taste 1 virgin or refined olive oil, clearly discerning the differences in freshness, quality, and profile.

Towards the end, the tasting takes on a more relaxed and gastronomic feel, accompanied by artisanal bread. If you wish, you can purchase the olive oils you tasted (subject to availability).