In 2022, a growing number of us are becoming more discerning when it comes to the food products we buy and consume – from the ingredients we’re putting inside our bodies, to how sustainable they, and the practices that have gone into bringing them to market, are. Environmental consciousness is at an all-time high, and while no self-respecting foodie would be willing to compromise on flavour or quality, ensuring we’re buying sustainable products is becoming a key consideration.
Thankfully, leading brands within the food and drink sphere are slowly but surely beginning to take note. And while adaptation and transformation amongst well-established brands is often a long and drawn-out process, a new generation of trailblazers that put sustainability at the heart of all they do from the off are taking centre stage and winning themselves a loyal following right from the start.
Newly launched sustainable luxury food brand Octave is a prime example of how quality and excellence can be combined with a greener approach to food. They draw inspiration from the beauty, purity and fertility of the seven Ionian Islands in Greece and underpin its range of superior category premium extra virgin olive oils with a commitment to the very highest Swiss quality and only the finest natural ingredients money can buy.
From start to finish, every step in the production process references and respects our most precious source – mother nature. And it’s all done in pursuit of a singular goal: to create the most unique, exquisite and memorable experience for our taste buds.
Octave has certainly achieved what it set out to, with its sumptuous and exclusive range of niche, high-end olive oils making for a captivating and memorable symphony of flavours. The brand creates each of its products using its unique ‘7+1’ formula to ensure, with each representing a musical octave, in homage to its name. First, there’s the origin – source of inspiration was the purity of the seven Ionian Islands and their commitment to the very highest Swiss quality. Both deeply rooted in who they are and part of their DNA, Octave is the fulfilment of their vision to produce something truly unique, creating a captivating and memorable symphony of flavours.
Then, there are the ingredients, which are without exception the very finest Octave can lay its hands on. Products are then gently matured in a temperature-controlled environment until the perfect time for consumption, ticking off number three – while four, which is ‘terroir’, refers to the sustainable and respectful working throughout the process to ensure unwavering harmony with the environment.
The fifth ingredient in this carefully composed formula is the ‘human element’, which represents the brand’s focus on people, and the sixth is, of course, social responsibility, with Octave supporting and promoting the next generation in both culture and music through its charitable initiatives.
In fact, the theme of music plays a central role in the Octave brand as a whole. “At least three percent of our turnover goes into supporting the next generation of young musicians,” says co-founder Anastasios Ghiatras, who dreamed up Octave alongside Janis Papadatos – both of whom are Swiss nationals with Greek roots.
Papadatos adds: “We are extremely pleased to be able to support the 2023 Steinway Competition in Switzerland as part of a sponsorship commitment. This competition provides a platform and a voice for up-and-coming artists, and thus the next generation.”
Onto the seventh ingredient of Octave’s formula – certification. All Octave products comply with the strictest standards and control requirements of the EU and Switzerland. So, what’s the final or ‘+1’ element of this tried and tested formula for perfection? It can only be Swiss quality, something on which the brand is unwilling to compromise. Each of its products is developed, tested and manufactured according to the highest Swiss precision standards, just as you’d expect from a brand that takes its dedication to luxury so seriously.
At this year’s Global Olive Oil Awards in Berlin, both of Octave’s impressive luxury products (Signature and Organic) received the Silver Award for their quality, selected from more than 1,000 competitors, while the brand’s design and packaging received the highest possible award of gold.
Globally renowned chef Antonio Colaianni – of the Michelin-starred Restaurant Ornellaia in Zurich – is perhaps one of Octave’s most notable fans to date. Colaianni, one of the best and most famous chefs in Switzerland (who once started his successful career at the famous and former three Michelin-starred restaurant Le Gavroche in London), has been awarded several Michelin stars and Gault Millau points throughout his career and describes his style as ‘Mediterranean Italian with a French base’.
He has extensively tasted the two Octave products Signature and Organic and written his test results in exclusive tasting notes, which will soon be made available across Octave’s website and product brochures.
To give you a taster, according to Colaianni, both oils exude flavours of raw artichokes, freshly cut grass and green tomatoes on the nose. While the Superior Quality Extra-Virgin Olive Oil has an appealing viscosity with a medium-mild taste that is perfectly balanced with ripeness, the Organic offering coats the mouth with a hint of elegance and opulence, with a medium fruit character.
And, while the former pairs perfectly with various vegetable-based dishes as well as fresh and saltwater fish and meats such as chicken and veal, the latter – thanks to its versatility, distinctive complexity and remarkably delicate taste profile – means it has the power to add value to any fine dish you could imagine.
“For me, both Octave products achieve a standard that can be called ‘Grand Cru level,’ he has said – drawing a comparison with the great wines of this world. No throwaway comment, but one that speaks volumes about the impeccable quality and mouth-watering taste you can expect when drizzling a little of the brand’s olive oils over your dinner.
The Octave Superior Quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil is produced by cold extraction at low temperatures (T<26oC), under constantly controlled hygienic conditions. The production method, the region and the blend of olive varieties result in an olive oil with a fruity and rather spicy flavour and subtle aroma. The Octave Superior Quality Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil undergoes the same process and is a single-variety olive oil (100% Koroneiki variety) with a fruity and attractively piquant flavour and a distinctive aroma.
Octave products are currently available online through octaveworld.com but will soon also be available in selected luxury and gourmet stores in Switzerland as well as in selected EU countries as well as North America, the Middle East and Asia.
