Elaboration of table olives

Table olives are one of the main pickled products prepared throughout the world. Spain is the first producing and exporting country. In general, any processing method aims to remove the natural bitterness of this fruit, caused by the glucoside oleuropein. The most common types of preparation are: Spanish Style Green, Natural Black and Black (Ripe) Olives (darkened by oxidation). In this paper the three elaboration processes are summarized, reviewing the current situation of the different phases of the production process for each one.