Coração Do Vale Enters India’s Gourmet Market

NEW DELHI, May 20, 2026: Portuguese extra virgin olive oil brand Coração Do Vale has entered the Indian market through an exclusive culinary showcase at Le Méridien New Delhi, marking the brand's formal debut in the country's growing premium gourmet food segment.

The launch was organised by Leads Brand Connect, the Indian distribution partner bringing the brand to market, and was structured as a chef-led tasting experience designed to introduce Coração Do Vale's olive oil range to premium consumers and trade buyers across Delhi-NCR.

A Portugal-rooted product from the Baixo Alentejo region

Coração Do Vale, which translates from Portuguese as "Heart of the Valley", sources its olives from the Baixo Alentejo region in southern Portugal, an established olive-growing area known for its climate and soil conditions suited to producing high-quality extra virgin olive oil. The brand's range uses a blend of five Portuguese olive varieties: Arbequina, Arbosana, Cobrançosa, Picual and Galega.

Production uses early harvest and cold extraction techniques, a combination that preserves the oil's antioxidant content and keeps acidity levels low, two markers widely associated with premium extra virgin olive oil quality.

Chef Davinder Kumar curates The Portuguese Pour tasting menu

Celebrity chef Davinder Kumar designed a dedicated tasting menu for the launch event, titled The Portuguese Pour – Chef DK's Tasting Series. The menu demonstrated the olive oil's range across Indian and international preparations, using it as both a primary cooking medium and a finishing ingredient.

Dishes on the menu included Tomato and Raw Mango Carpaccio, Charred Sweet Potato Chaat, Pan Seared Sole with EVOO Tapenade and Rustic Carrot and Cinnamon Cake, alongside soups, mains, desserts and a signature olive oil-infused mocktail. The selection was designed to show how the product functions across different flavour profiles and cooking techniques rather than sitting only in the European cuisine segment.

Olive oil's sensory profile highlighted at the event

Chef Kumar described the Coração Do Vale olive oil as balanced and adaptable across preparations, noting its fruity aromatic notes, creamy mid-palate texture and peppery finish, a characteristic associated with polyphenol content, an indicator of antioxidant richness in early-harvest extra virgin olive oils.

The event format, a sit-down, multi-course tasting held within a five-star hotel, positioned the brand at the top end of the Indian food and beverage market from its first day of commercial activity in the country.

India's gourmet consumer the target audience

Richa Khandewal of Leads Brand Connect said the launch was designed to bring together India's maturing gourmet food culture and the craft tradition behind Portuguese olive oil production. The partnership with Chef Davinder Kumar, she noted, created a credible platform to introduce the brand to Indian consumers who seek premium culinary ingredients beyond mainstream retail offerings.

Coração Do Vale enters a segment where imported extra virgin olive oils from Spain, Italy and Greece already have an established consumer base in urban India. Portugal remains a less commonly represented origin in the Indian retail premium olive oil market, which the brand positions as a point of differentiation.

Available through Amazon India and select Delhi-NCR gourmet stores

Following the launch, Coração Do Vale is available through its direct-to-consumer platform, Amazon India and select gourmet retail stores across Delhi-NCR. The brand is positioned as both a premium daily-use cooking oil and a luxury gifting option, targeting consumers looking for high-quality imported culinary products for personal use or corporate and personal gifting occasions.

No pricing information was disclosed at the time of the launch event.