Table olives are olives that are meant to be consumed as food instead of being used for the production of oil. Table olives have a unique aroma, texture, and complexity of flavour, varying from bitter to sweet. There is a wide range of bioactive compounds in olive fruit, with the most predominant being oleuropein.
What Are Table Olives?
Table olives are olive fruit that needs to be processed before being consumed. There are many varieties of olives, with each having unique qualities that determine the properties and flavour of the fruit. Fresh olives are bitter and very sharp in flavour. As a result of this, they are not commonly consumed as fresh fruits.
There are different processing methods of fresh olives, which make them more palatable for consumption. These processes remove the bitter taste caused by oleuropein. Among the processes involved in the production of table, olives are dry curing, brine-curing, water curing, or oil curing.
Things to Consider Before Buying Table Olives
Several factors can affect table olive composition. Additionally, there are factors you should consider before purchasing table olives. It is to ensure that you always purchase good and edible products. Therefore, you should consider these things before buying table olives:
1. Appearance
Indeed, looks do not always count. Table olives should have two mutually exclusive characteristics; look as good as possible, and taste good. You should avoid batches of olives with patchy or discoloured skin. Ideally, the best types of table olives are smooth and shiny ones without any lacerations or bruises.
2. Texture
A good table olive should not be woody or tough. Its flesh should have some degree of firmness, especially green olives. The flesh of the olive fruit should readily detach from the pit, and its skin should not be too tough. Before purchasing table olives from a store, always look for the ones dressed in brine. The brine helps table olives retain their flavour and moisture.
3. Mold
Some mold types contain harmful toxins. Table olives are not only susceptible to mold, but are to mycotoxins as well. Although the presence of mold on olives is not as big an issue, it is still best that you look out for them. The presence of mold on olives can negatively affect its taste. Ensure that you always purchase olives with pits. It is easier for molds to take over olives during the removal of the de-pitting process.
4. Smell
The aroma of properly cured table olives will always be clean. You should ensure that you pay attention to the aroma before purchasing table olives. Additionally, it is quite easy to notice an off-fermentation. Quality table olives should never have an off-odor. You should therefore avoid picking the ones with an odd smell.
5. Taste
You can recognise quality olives by their flavour. Well-fermented table olive should have a good balance between the fruit's natural flavour, salt and natural lactic acid. Overly acidic olives are not pleasant in the mouth. It is harsh on the taste buds. This means that vinegar has been added after the curing process instead of being created. Vinegar is often used to disguise negative olive taste characteristics.
Health Benefits of Table Olives
There are many health benefits associated with the consumption of table olives. Table olives are rich in vitamin E and other antioxidants. They may protect against cancer and osteoporosis, and they are also good for the heart. Table olives, a key component of the Mediterranean diet, contain high amounts of healthy fats.
Table olives are often eaten on their own dressed in olive oil and spices but can be enjoyed on crackers, sandwiches and salads. Generally, the health properties of table olives may include the following:
Antioxidant properties:
Dietary antioxidants help minimize the risk of chronic illnesses like cancer and heart disease. Antioxidants are present in olives in abundance, with their benefits including reducing the growth of microorganisms and fighting inflammation.
Additionally, the blood level of glutathione is significantly increased when the olive flesh is eaten. Glutathione is among the most powerful antioxidants present in the human body.
Improved heart health:
Olive contains oleic acid, which is associated with improved heart health. Eating olives reduces blood pressure and high blood cholesterol, which are both risk factors of heart disease. Oleic is the main fatty acid in olives and may protect bad cholesterol from oxidation. Furthermore, table olives may help minimize blood pressure.
Improved bone health:
Osteoporosis is characterized by reduced bone quality and mass, which leads to bone fractures. There are speculations that olives may protect you from these conditions because some of the compounds in olives have been shown to prevent bone loss in animals.
Cancer prevention:
Olives and all their products are commonly consumed in the Mediterranean area. The rate of cancer and other chronic conditions is lower in the Mediterranean region than in other western countries. This may partly be a result of olives being high in oleic acid contents and antioxidants. Research shows that these compounds break the life cycle of cancer cells in the stomach, colon, and breast.
Conclusion
Table olives have varying flavours, sizes, colours and textures. This is because of the different varieties of olives and curing methods. By considering the things discussed above, it will help you get a quality product. At Aril Estate, we offer naturally fermented black and green olives in brine. You can choose from our excellent Manzanilla, Californian Queen, Verdale, and Picual olive varieties.
Reference:
Olives 101: Nutritional facts and health benefits