Las olives They are an emblematic fruit of the Mediterranean, famous for its flavor, its health benefits and for being the raw material of the precious olive oil. However, those who cultivate olive trees or buy fresh olives can notice a curious phenomenon sometimes: The olive is wrinkled. This can generate doubts about whether they are damaged, if it is normal or what natural processes are behind this change. In this article, We will explain why this phenomenon occurs and what it implies for the quality of the olive.
Water: the main factor in olive wrinkles
The main reason why olives are wrinkled is the loss of water. The olives, like any other fruit, contain a high percentage of water in their composition. During your life cycle, this Water is distributed inside the fruit cells, keeping it smooth and firm.
When the olive Lose water, whether it's by climatic, storage or maturation factors, Your skin begins to shrink, forming those wrinkles. This phenomenon not only occurs with olives; It is something similar to what is observed with grapes when becoming raisins.
Factors that contribute to water loss
1. Natural maturation
The most mature olives tend to wrinkle naturally, since their water content decreases over time. At this stage, The fruit is more concentrated in accumulating oils than water, especially if it is a variety for oil production, such as those you can buy in Ayozar Oils.
2. Climate and environmental conditions
High temperatures, low humidity and prolonged exposure to the sun They can cause olives to lose water more quickly while they are still in the tree. This is common in regions where The weather is warm and dry during the harvest period.
3. Lack of irrigation
In drying crops, where the olive tree depends solely on the rains, It is more likely that the olives will wrinkle if they do not receive enough water during critical stages of development. This It does not always affect the oil quality, but it can reduce the size of the fruit.
4. Storage and post -harvest
If the collected olives are not properly stored, They can lose water through the skin, especially in Dry environments or without moisture control. This dehydration process is similar to the one that occurs with other fresh fruits.
Is it bad that the olive has wrinkles?
That olives wrinkle is not always a negative indicator. It all depends on the context and the purpose of the fruit:
• For direct consumption: In the case of olives destined to be consumed in the form of table olives, wrinkles can be perceived as a sign of dehydration and affect their appearance or texture. However, Many varieties of traditionally cured olives, like the Greek black olives, They usually have a wrinkled texture as part of their natural process.
• For olive oil producer: Wrinkled olives are not necessarily a problem. In fact, this phenomenon often occurs in the varieties destined for oil production because They have reached optimal maturation. While excessive water loss could reduce the weight of the fruit of the fruit, the oil content is concentrated, and this can even improve its quality and aroma.
You may be interested: CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PICUAL OLIVE
How to avoid wrinkling in the olive?
If it is desired to prevent the olive, either in cultivation or storage, there are some measures that can be taken:
- Irrigation management: Make sure the olive trees receive sufficient water, especially in critical periods such as the development of the fruit.
- Harvest at the right time: Do not leave the olives too long in the tree once they have reached the desired maturation point.
- Correct storage: If the olives are for direct consumption or sale, guide them in a fresh and wet atmosphere That avoids dehydration. The use of closed containers or bags with controlled atmosphere can help.
- Rapid processing: For the olives aimed at producing oil, processing them shortly after harvesting will minimize the effects of dehydration.
The olive wrinkle It is a natural phenomenon that is mainly related to the loss of water and environmental conditions. In most cases, It is not a poor quality indicator, but a Reflection of your maturation process or climatic conditions. In Ayozar Oils, we value each stage of the development of the fruit, guaranteeing that our olives, wrinkled or not, always offer a extra virgin olive oil of the best quality and with its great benefits.
Do you want to know more about the fascinating world of olives and olive oil? Keep exploring Our blog To know all the secrets of this wonderful fruit.
