I began my technical course at ONAOO in September 2022, building a strong foundation in extra virgin olive oil quality standards, and evaluation. In February 2023, I started the ONAOO Professional Tasting Course, further developing my sensory analysis skills and ability to assess EVOO based on official tasting methods. I completed my ONAOO course in November 2025.

Extra virgin olive oil is more than a product to me, it is a symbol of history, culture, and tradition that has been valued for thousands of years across the Mediterranean. From ancient civilizations that used olive oil for food, health, and daily life, to modern producers who preserve traditional methods while improving quality standards, olive oil has always represented purity, resilience, and connection to the land and people.

I am proud to be part of this long heritage by sourcing only exceptional EVOO and promoting oils that are authentic, fresh, and truly representative of their origin. I am committed to continuous learning and to maintaining the highest standards in quality, traceability, and transparency, so customers can experience olive oil the way it was meant to be fresh, healthy, and deeply rooted in history.

“Olive oil is not an agricultural trade, it is a product of Love and Faith”.
Born in Baassir (Lebanon), one of the oldest countries to ever produce olive oil in the world, Ibrahim Al Kaakour is continuing an over 300 year old family legacy in the cultivation of olive oil.
Graduate of Electrical and Computer Engineering from the American University of Beirut and a holder of an Executive MBA with a focus on finance from Ésa/ESCP Europe, Ibrahim did not let his daily routine sway him from becoming a professional taster and a master blender/producer of olive oil.
To give homage to both his paternal Lebanese and maternal Greek Heritage, He currently owns two brands that he developed under his company LGOO with a luxury line of exquisite blends of olive oil, honey and many other organic products in state of the art branding.
Ibrahim is also keen on helping the local communities to improve the quality of olive oil and spread not only the know-who that he acquired as an olive oil sommelier, but also the culture, the roots and the love that he shares by hosting tasting sessions and introductory seminars in the olive oil center of the family Villa in the beautiful Mediterranean town of Baassir (a syriac aramian name that translates to “The House of Juice”).
From 2017 he is Member of ONAOO where he started his educational path. On January 2020 he concluded his studies by obtaining the Qualification of Professional Taster of ONAOO.

Najeeb is a distinguished banking professional whose expertise extends far beyond the financial sector. While he has achieved significant success in his career, his true passion lies in the art and science of olive oil, a pursuit deeply rooted in his family’s heritage and the rich traditions of Palestine.

Motivated by this connection, he embarked on an educational journey at the ONAOO School, concluding in 2024 with the achievement of a professional taster qualification, marking him as the first from Palestine to achieve such recognition. Originating from the historic town of Birzeit, whose name translates to “olive oil well,” Najeeb grew up immersed in the legacy of olive cultivation.

His family co-owns an olive press in northern Palestine, where they blend generations of knowledge with modern, environmentally sustainable practices to produce exceptional olive oil. Najeeb’s journey reflects the deep, enduring relationship between people, the land, and one of its most revered symbols — the olive tree.

Antonella has been an ONAOO professional taster since 2017.

After obtaining her sensory certification, she has been a member and judge of the Swiss Olive Oil Panel (SOP) at the ZHAW School of Life Sciences and Facility Management since 2002.

Since 2002 she has been a judge for the “ZHAW International Olive Oil Award” and other international competitions. She is the owner and managing director of “Mitera GmbH”: a producer of Cretan millennial quality olive oil, approved by DNA in both Crete and Umbria. She is also a nutritionist.