Since September 1995, date of my birth, I’ve been always in the olive mill of my family: first as incredulous and unconscious viewer, then as assigned to the snack time based on bread and olive oil. Besides following the production, now I also manage the commercial area. I do represent the fifth generation in our family-run mill in Taggia on the edge of steeply Valle Argentina, land of Taggiasca olive.

Alex, a native food enthusiast and skilled chef from Kaohsiung, Taiwan, runs a restaurant called Alessandro Mediterranean, which offers a wide array of delectable Mediterranean dishes.

Driven by his passion for European cuisine, Alex has also established a European gourmet food store. This store specializes in various European food products and tableware, with a particular emphasis on Italian cuisine. It aims to bring authentic European flavors to its customers by providing high-quality ingredients, handcrafted products, and elegant silverware, creating a unique dining experience. Alex honed his skills in this area as a professional olive oil taster by completing his training in ONAOO in 2018. He also serves as a trainer for the Specialty Coffee Association.

With these skills, he ensures that customers receive the finest products and services. To help customers understand European culinary culture better, Alex’s store regularly hosts cooking and coffee classes and wine-tasting events. These activities allow customers to learn how to create authentic European dishes hands-on and bring the Italian lifestyle to their homes.

Eva Collini was born in Turin, a city linked to the automotive industry.

After working fifteen years as a quality engineer, she left her career to start a project related to extra virgin olive oil. She then enrolled in ONAOO for a technical course and an advanced course, becoming a professional taster in 2023. Meanwhile, Eva started her own project, the only oil shop in Piedmont: L’EVO di Eva.

A few years later, the oleoteca grew, helping to spread oil culture. You can buy high-quality, mainly Italian oils, and you can also buy various EVO-based products (food and cosmetics), as well as books and guides about olive oil. Eva is also on the National List of olive oil technicians and expert tasters at the Brescia Chamber of Commerce.

Through my company Oliiv, I import, introduce, and sell high-quality extra virgin olive oil in Estonia, primarily through an online store and curated experiences. The website and e-shop provide the opportunity to learn more about each product and make informed purchases.

My activities include guided tastings, culinary pairings, and cultural events — from intimate gatherings at home to market events and musical evenings with olive-oil-based cocktails. The goal is always to spark curiosity and offer enjoyable and educational experiences centered on olive oil.

In a country where butter dominates the cuisine, there is great potential to show how olive oil can be part of a healthy, joyful Mediterranean lifestyle. For this reason, collaboration with chefs and cooking schools is becoming an important part of my work.

Looking ahead, I am particularly interested in engaging with the international olive oil community. Participating in global competitions — both as a taster and as a judge — is one of my aspirations. It is a valuable way to continue learning, contribute to quality standards, and bring new ideas and energy to the Estonian market.

We venture into the culinary world not just for taste, but also for culture. It means experiencing a moment of insight, a flash of memory, or understanding a tradition, a civilization. — Umberto Eco