Azada Organic Olive Oil from Tarragona, the Forssmann family since 2009
Azada is a German-Spanish organic olive oil brand from Tivissa in the province of Tarragona, founded in 2009 by Kevin Forssmann and Josep Maria Mallafre. Seven varieties made from the Arbequina olive – pure or flavored with garlic, lemon, basil, orange, or chili. No flavorings; instead, the fresh ingredients are pressed together with the olives.
Azada is a German-Spanish organic olive oil brand from Tarragona, founded in 2009 by Kevin Forssmann and Josep Maria Mallafre. The Forssmann family works on over 20 hectares of land in Tivissa, featuring olive trees, hazelnut trees, cherry trees, and a small vineyard. Seven organic olive oil varieties are produced from the Arbequina olive, all using the same method: fresh ingredients are pressed together with the olives in the company's own mill, rather than adding flavorings. Organic control number ES-ECO-019-CT.
Kevin's memory of Tivissa, 1970s
"Azada was born at the beginning of 2009, inspired by memories of my childhood," says Kevin Forssmann, one of the founders.
In the 1970s, Kevin's father bought an abandoned plot of land in Tivissa in the Spanish province of Tarragona. On the land stood a small house, surrounded by old almond and hazelnut fields that had long since lost their yield. Kevin's father dreamed of restoring the land and returning to traditional forms of harvesting.
At first, they used only a hoe, which is called "azada" in Spanish, to cultivate the fields – hence the brand name. In the following years, the family's land grew to over 20 hectares with hazelnut, cherry, and olive trees, plus a small vineyard where the family harvested their own grapes and produced wine.
As a boy, Kevin earned his pocket money by selling the harvest to the local cooperative. Later, he went out into the world and pursued a professional career – until he missed rural life so much that he returned to his roots in 2009. With his friend Josep Maria Mallafre, he founded Azada, the brand that today brings the family's olive oil to the world.
Seven varieties from one olive
Azada works exclusively with the Arbequina olive – a mild, fruity variety from the north of Spain. Seven olive oils are produced from it, either pure or flavored.
The foundation is the extra virgin olive oil – the pure version in aluminum bottles (225 ml) and tin cans (500 ml). Fruity in scent with notes of apple and green grass, with a fine peppery spice on the palate. The brand anchor and entry into the assortment.
The garlic oil is the most sought-after variety – fresh garlic pressed directly with the Arbequina olive, intense in scent, Mediterranean in taste. Replaces fresh garlic in every pasta and pizza kitchen.
The citrus family includes two varieties: the lemon olive oil for salads, fish, and carpaccio, and the orange olive oil for sweet baking, salmon, and roasted duck.
The basil olive oil brings a pesto vibe to tomatoes and pizza. The chili olive oil provides Mediterranean heat without the trick of flavorings – both pressed with the olive using fresh ingredients.
For beginners and as a gift, there is the olive oil tasting kit – four 20 ml glass bottles with garlic, lemon, basil, and chili in a box. A compact tasting concept for exploring the brand.
Pressed together instead of flavored – the Azada process
What is special about Azada: Instead of adding flavor to the finished oil, fresh ingredients are pressed together with the Arbequina olives in the company's own mill.
Fresh garlic cloves, lemons, basil leaves, whole oranges, or chili peppers go into the mill together with the olives. In this way, the flavor is created directly during the pressing process, not through subsequent addition. The juice and essential oils of the fresh ingredient combine with the olive oil, without preservatives or artificial flavors.
The process comes from the Spanish olive oil tradition and distinguishes Azada from most flavored oils on the market, which derive their flavor from concentrates or mixtures. For the brand, this is not marketing, but the foundation of the taste.
All seven varieties are certified organic according to EU standards – control number ES-ECO-019-CT. Gluten-free, vegan, lactose-free – this is a given for olive oil when pressed without additives. The olive remains in the foreground, while the fresh ingredient provides the seasoning.
The Forssmann family works on over 20 hectares of land in the Tarragona region, with olive trees as the focus, but also hazelnut, cherry, and almond trees. The harvest is done traditionally by hand, and the pressing takes place in their own mill. "We wanted to bring the taste of Spain to the plate," says Kevin Forssmann – an idea that can be tasted in every bottle.
Spanish roots, German collaboration
Azada is a German-Spanish brand – with Kevin Forssmann as a bridge between the two worlds and Josep Maria Mallafre as a partner on-site in Tivissa.
Kevin Forssmann comes from Germany but has known the Spanish family and the land in Tarragona since his childhood. This dual perspective is reflected in the brand: Spanish tradition – Arbequina olive, family business, local farmers – combined with German precision in processing and marketing.
The beautiful white bottles and cans with the typical Azada branding are designed specifically for each variety: 100 ml glass bottles and 225 ml tin cans for the five flavored oils, 225 ml aluminum bottles and 500 ml tin cans for the pure variety, plus four mini glass bottles for the tasting kit. The brand's visual identity is minimalist and elegant, without Mediterranean clichés – a clear branding that immediately stands out on the shelf.
In specialist retail, Azada has its place where olive oil is understood as a gourmet product – alongside other organic manufacturers, small producers, and honest manufacturer brands. The absence of flavor tricks is the standard here rather than the exception. Those who love olive oil and want to try it out will find an entire series of varieties from Azada in one brand.
Our favorites from the Azada assortment
From the seven varieties, we have recommendations for various occasions – so you know where best to start.
For beginners, the pure extra virgin olive oil is worthwhile – this will help you get to know the character of the Arbequina before you venture into the flavored oils. It is also the most versatile oil in the assortment, from bread dipping to carpaccio.
Those who already know olive oil and want to try flavored oils are best starting with the garlic oil – it is the most sought-after variety and a good introduction to Azada's "pressed-together" method.
As a gift idea, the tasting kit is ideal – four varieties in mini-format, compactly packaged, ready to give as a gift. Also a nice thing for travels or to bring along to a vacation home.
In summer, the lemon olive oil is worthwhile – for salads, fish, and cold soups. In winter, the orange variety is interesting – for fennel, salmon, or when baking instead of butter.
Seven varieties are made from one olive here – that is the simplest yet most honest idea an olive oil assortment can have.
Organic control number ES-ECO-019-CT Spanish agriculture
