JOOTA Awards
Tokyo International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition Rules
Eligible Oils and Qualifications
Eligible oils shall be those extra virgin olive oils produced in both hemispheres during the harvest season of 2019/2020, which comply with International Olive Council (hereafter IOC) trade standards, are standardized to comply with such, and which are being sold legally.
The manufactures, cooperatives, importers, wholesalers, and bottling and packaging companies who can guarantee the source of their olive oil and who wish to participate in the competition will need to apply by accurately following the published entry method and submitting samples of olive oil.
Number of Entries and Submitted Bottles
Entry Fee
The entry fee is 25,300 yen (tax included) per item.
Please pay your entry fee by bank transfer to the account noted below within 10 days of applying for entry. Furthermore, the absolute final deadline for paying the entry fee is Monday, the 10th of February 2020.
We ask that the entrant company making the bank transfer take responsibility for all fees.
Your entry will become official after we’ve confirmed receipt of your entry fee.
Entry fees will not be refunded.
Bank Information
BANK NAME
MIZUHO BANK, LTD.
SWIFT CODE (BIC CODE)
MHCBJPJT
BRANCH NAME
SHIBUYA BRANCH
BENEFICIARY'S ACCOUNT NO.
210－1369555
BENEFICIARY NAME
Japan Olive Oil Taster Association
Entry
Entry Period
The entry period runs between November 19, 2019 (Tue.) and February 4th, 2020 (Tue.).
Sample Mailing Methods and Deadlines
The entry fee is 25,300 yen (tax included) per item.
Please pay your entry fee by bank transfer to the account noted below within 10 days of applying for entry. Furthermore, the absolute final deadline for paying the entry fee is Monday, the 10th of February 2020.
We ask that the entrant company making the bank transfer take responsibility for all fees.
Your entry will become official after we’ve confirmed receipt of your entry fee.
Entry fees will not be refunded.
- After completing your entry application, please send your samples to the address noted below by Monday, February 10, 2020. The deadline will be strictly enforced.
Il Piccolo Oliveto
1-5-3-108 Hamacho, Funabashi-shi
〒273-0012 Chiba-ken
JAPAN
TEL: +81-3-6868-5356
Sample acceptance time: Monday to Friday 10:00-16:00
- Please note that samples will not be accepted from December 21, 2019 (Saturday) to January 7, 2020 (Tuesday)
- For both domestic and international entrants, all fees incurred in sending in your samples, including shipping, handling, packaging and customs fees, will be the responsibility of the entrant company.
- In the event you are sending samples internationally, please write "Sample, No Commercial Value" on the invoice.
- The entrant company will be responsible for all aspects of shipping their samples. The organizers take no responsibility for irregularities in customs processing/clearance, or for accidents, damage, or delay during transit.
- In the event that samples do not arrive by the deadline, the entry will be canceled and we will be unable to judge the samples. In such a case, the entry fee will not be refunded.
Judging
Quality Award
- On the Entry Form, entrants will select from one of the following four categories on which their samples will be judged.
- Green Delicate Fruitiness
- Green Medium Fruitiness
- Green Robust Fruitiness
- Ripe fruitiness
Furthermore, if the judges deem that the oil does not fall into the categories stipulated ahead of time, the panel of judges may assign the oil to a different category.
The fruitiness of Green Fruitiness and Ripe fruitiness is classified as follows.
Green Fruitiness
This oil has a unique overall aroma that brings to mind green fruit. While it varies according to the variety of olives, this oil is made from fresh and healthy green olives. Perceived directly, or by deeply scenting the aroma.
Ripe fruitiness
This oil has a unique overall aroma that brings to mind ripe fruit. While it varies according to the variety of olives, this oil is made from fresh, healthy olives. Perceived directly, or by deeply scenting the aroma.
- After samples are received, a lawyer for the organizers will assign each oil participating in the competition a secret code number, guaranteeing the anonymity of the samples.
- Judging is conducted by a panel of judges made up of domestic and international tasters and panel leaders selected by the JOOTA Awards Issuance Council, using samples we ensure have been anonymized, in a blind tasting process.
An appropriate evaluation form, standardized to the Mario Solinas Quality Award hosted by the IOC, is used in judging.
The winning olive oils in each category will be determined by what score they receive. For details about each award, please see the ‘Prizes/Awards’ section.
The judges reserve the right to award several prizes, proportional to the number of entries in a given category.
Special Awards
Two contestants each will be chosen by restaurant chefs and department store buyers’ judging panels.
For details about each award, please see the ‘Prizes/Awards’ section.
Prizes/Awards
Quality Award
For each category below, Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards, as well as three Finalists Awards, will be granted.
- Green Delicate Fruitiness
- Green Medium Fruitiness
- Green Robust Fruitiness
- Ripe fruitiness
- Southern Hemisphere Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Japan Extra Virgin Olive Oil
One oil will be selected to win for each of the following awards.
- Best single variety extra virgin olive oil
- Best Blend Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Best country in each country (For countries with more than 5 samples)
Quality Award
Two oils will be selected to win for each of the following awards.
- Chef’s Award
- Department Store Buyers’ Award
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil that Complements Japanese Cuisine Award
Results Announcement
Results will be posted on the JOOTA AWARDS website on Thursday, February 27, 2020.
Awards Ceremony
The awards ceremony will be held on Tuesday 10th of March, 2020, on the site of the highest level food exhibition in Asia, Foodex Japan 2020, and awards will be handed out in front of exhibition attendees, the media, and specialists.
Observations
Regarding Awards and Medal Logos
Winners of gold, silver, and bronze in the various quality categories will receive commemorative trophies and certificates, as well as a data file for a medal logo which may be displayed on the bottle of the winning product.
For all other awards, a certificate will be awarded.
The use of the awarded medal logo sticker must comply with the specified rules, noted separately, and can only be used for products belonging to the same production year as the award-winning oil.
Benefits of Special Awards such as department store events and promotions or those at sales cooperatives, restaurants and more, are listed on our website in the “Benefits”, so please consult that section for details.
Regarding the handling of participating Oils
Regarding oils received as samples, the organizers will handle them with the utmost care and store them at the appropriate temperature until the time they are handed over to the panel of judges.
Moreover please note that we will not be able to return oils sent to us as samples for absolutely any reason.
Regarding Alterations to the Rules
By participating in the competition, you agree to these rules.
