Our Story

I cannot pinpoint exactly where it all started. But I’ve always had a passion for going after taste rather than convenience or anything else (you could say I’m one of those people who live to eat, not eat to live).

Looking at me, you might not immediately guess my love for food. It’s probably because I’ve always been more of a ‘smell first, taste later’ kind of person, which made me a picky eater, not by choice but by nature. That habit felt like a curse at times (I always found something to dislike for a while 🙂) until I eventually developed a solid palate and appetite. That’s what I call the 'nature' part of me. But one thing has never changed: my love for anything cooked with or drizzled in olive oil.

Growing up in one of the world’s olive lands, extra virgin olive oil has been a big part of my culture, life, and my earliest memories of food; something I couldn’t imagine living without. When life, especially grown-up decisions, took me down a path away from the kitchen, food, and nature, basically to a life that spent in front of a screen like most of us, I knew somewhere in my heart that it was temporary.

Taking a formal step into the world of olive oil changed everything. Initially, my intention was just to take a little break from my career to dig deep into my passion for tasting, food, and culinary. 

I found myself back at university in Spain, studying olive oil from the ground up (with a dream of owning my own small grove one day). I became a certified olive oil taster, turns out my lifelong habit of smelling everything finally paid off. Soon after, I joined a professional tasting panel of Olive Oil Institute in the Netherlands.

The more time I spent in the industry, the more I realized that, even though they represent a small fraction, there are producers who share my values; caring deeply for their land, their trees, and the quality of their oils while seamlessly blending innovation with tradition. And they need more spotlight!

That’s when I started imagining Grovehood Collective, a brand that brings together like-minded producers and shares their exceptional extra virgin olive oils with more people. My desire is to connect you to these producers who work tirelessly to make a positive impact in the industry, and spark a deeper appreciation for olive oil as a craft and for its versatility from the aspects of craftsmanship, olive varieties and terroir. This way, we can honour authenticity and the efforts of the producers behind it.

For me, olive oil is about connection; between people, nature, and cultures. With Grovehood Collective, I hope to bring that connection to your table in a way that is delicious, transparent & sustainable, elevating your culinary experience and your well-being with nature’s best gift.

So, welcome to the hood! Hope you’ll love the difference.

Guliz

Founder & Taster