Olive Oil Library

Olive Oil Library Experience Tour

Some libraries preserve books. However, there are no books at all in the Yücel Sönmez Olive Oil Library, which houses Sevilma olive oils. This place keeps alive the culture of olive production, dating back thousands of years, and the collective memory of different regions. Instead of books, the shelves of this library are lined with olive oils from various regions stretching from Anatolia to America.

Named after our journalist friend Yücel Sönmez, who passed away in 2025, our library houses 70 varieties of olive oil from Turkey and various parts of the world.

The Olive Oil Library, located at Sevilma Garden—Turkey’s first Slow Food Farm—is the world’s first olive oil library.

Through the unique experience you’ll have here, you’ll embark on a journey through the diverse landscapes of Turkey and the wider world. All you need to do to enjoy this experience—one you won’t find anywhere else in the world—is to visit the village of Orhanlı in Seferihsar.

Six different experiences await you here!

  1. Discover How Olive Oil Is Produced

By visiting the Ercan Baba Olive Oil Mill, where Sevilma olive oils are produced, you will witness first-hand the secrets of premium olive oil production. You will explore the entire process in detail, from the moment the olives first arrive at the mill to the final extraction of the oil.

  1. Embark on a Culinary Journey

You will travel the world in pursuit of flavours. On the shelves of the Olive Oil Library, from which drops of oil drip, you will discover the flavours of olive oils from different regions, accompanied by expert guides.

  1. Find Out What High-Quality Olive Oil Is Like

Guided by experts, you will learn about the characteristics of the perfect olive oil, such as cold-pressed, natural extra virgin, and its levels of bitterness and pungency. This experience will enable you to find the perfect olive oil—the one offering the best value for money—by reading the labels or tasting it when you go shopping. What’s more, you’ll discover which olive oil is the one that makes you say, “Now that’s my oil!”. 

  1. Which Dishes Go Best with Olive Oil?

During the tasting, you’ll discover which varieties of olive oil pair well with different dishes and salads. Which oil is best suited for cooking? Which one can I use straight away? You’ll find the answers to all these questions.

  1. Experience the Slow Food Philosophy First-hand

At the Sevilma Garden, Turkey’s first Slow Food Farm, you will see agroecological production methods in action. You will be introduced to the concept of “good, clean and fair food”, the fundamental principle of Slow Food. You’ll discover the ancient Aegean olive-growing tradition, based on the grafting of wild olive trees. Whilst relaxing in the factory garden, surrounded by nature, you’ll also enjoy quality time with your children.

  1. Enjoy the Sevilma Kitchen 

And finally… You’ll round off this unforgettable experience with the Sevilma Kitchen, which combines traditional Mediterranean flavours with innovative recipes. You’ll be treated to a unique feast of flavours, ranging from starters to main courses and desserts, each prepared with a different Sevilma olive oil.

Sevilma Kitchen Menu

Duration and Fee

Our experience package, which lasts one and a half hours (90 minutes) 250 TL including VAT’… is. 

Services included in the package:

  • A guided tour of the Ercan Baba Olive Oil Mill led by experts
  • Professional tasting of four different olive oils from the Olive Oil Library
  • Practical training on the criteria for high-quality and flawless olive oil
  • A chat with experts on olive oil and food pairings
  • A walk and observation session at Turkey’s first Slow Food Farm, the Sevilma Garden

Food and drink orders from the Sevilma Kitchen are not included in the price. If you would like to sample a wider variety of olive oils, each additional olive oil of Turkish origin is charged at 30 TL, whilst olive oils from other countries around the world are charged at 60 TL.

Gruplar için özel ve daha uzun süreli organizasyonlar rezerve edilebilir. 10 kişi ve üzeri grup rezervasyonlarında yemek ücreti dahil %10 indirim uygulanmaktadır.

Transport

Sevilma Olive Grove

  • 20 minutes to the Seferihisar Centre
  • It is 35 minutes’ drive from Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport.

Location: Sevilma | Ercan Baba Olive Oil Mill | Olive Oil Library

Booking

Visits to the Yücel Sönmez Olive Oil Library are by appointment only, so that we can offer our guests a guided and personalised experience. Visits generally take place twice a day, at 11.00 and 15.00. The times may be adjusted for private bookings.

To make an online booking, simply select the date, session and number of people, and you can pay straight away. Please get in touch with us for specific times, group bookings and further details.

Telephone: +90 (531) 250 25 10

Email: [email protected]

News about the Olive Oil Library

Online rezervasyon

Seans
Toplam ₺250,00 Kişi başı ₺250,00, KDV dahil. 10 kişi ve üzeri gruplarda %10 indirim.