Silvanus' Geheimnis, winner of Switzerland’s most rigorous olive oil competition
In March 2026, our Silvanus' Geheimnis extra virgin olive oil (ID 011, submitted by Acanthis Servitia SL) underwent the most demanding evaluation in Europe for olive oils: the ZHAW Zurich Olive Oil Award 2026, organized by the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), one of the world’s most renowned food research centers.
The result: a Bronze Medal and a rating that places it well above average.
What is the ZHAW Zurich Olive Oil Award?
The ZHAW Olive Oil Award is not just any competition. Its tasting panel — the Swiss Olive Oil Panel (SOP) — is accredited according to ISO 17025, the strictest international standard for testing laboratories. Its tasters are continuously trained and evaluated under a monitoring system that guarantees the validity and consistency of the results.
The evaluation follows the European regulation EU 2022/2105 for the sensory classification of olive oils, combined with a proprietary, validated method for aroma description and harmony assessment — developed in collaboration with the Deutsche Olivenöl Panel (DOP).
In short: if an oil passes this test with distinction, it truly deserves it.
Silvanus' Geheimnis results
Official classification: Extra Virgin ✅
- Median of defects: 0.0 — perfect, with no detectable defects
- Fruitiness: 5.1 — medium category, green profile
- Bitterness: 3.5 — balanced and characteristic
- Pungency: 3.9 — present and persistent
Harmony & Persistence Value: 7.5
According to the ZHAW scale, a harmony value between 6.5 and 7.5 corresponds to the “Very good” category — meaning that the oil is very well balanced and harmonious, with broad aromatic diversity and pleasant qualities that clearly persist over time.
The certified aromatic profile
The expert panel identified the following aromatic descriptors in Silvanus' Geheimnis:
- 🌱 Freshly cut grass (75% of the panel) — an unmistakable sign of early harvesting
- 🍃 Vegetal notes / olive leaves (100% of the panel) — detected by every taster
- 🍅 Tomato (38%) — freshness and liveliness
- 🌿 Aromatic herbs — oregano, thyme, rosemary (63%)
- 🥜 Nuts (50%) — a rounded, persistent finish
- 🌸 Artichoke (38%) — vegetal complexity
Why this matters to you as a consumer
In a market saturated with oils that call themselves “premium,” awards based on accredited scientific methodology are the only objective guarantee of quality. It is not marketing: it is chemistry, sensory science, and analytical rigor.
When you buy Silvanus' Geheimnis, you are not just buying an oil with history and tradition. You are buying an oil that has passed the scrutiny of Switzerland’s most demanding laboratory.
Available in a limited edition
The 2024 harvest evaluated in this competition is the same one currently available from AlmaTerra. These are the final bottles from a limited edition, individually numbered.