{"id":18209,"date":"2026-11-04T11:12:58","date_gmt":"2026-11-04T10:12:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sonmesquidassa.com\/aceitunas-negras-naturales-vs-lata\/"},"modified":"2026-11-09T11:39:49","modified_gmt":"2026-11-09T10:39:49","slug":"natural-black-olives-versus-canned","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonmesquidassa.com\/en\/natural-black-olives-versus-canned\/","title":{"rendered":"Natural black olives versus canned ones: which should you choose?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You pick up two packs of black olives at the supermarket. One contains ferrous gluconate; the other does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They look alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But natural black olives and the familiar canned black olives can reach that colour in different ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Natural black olives are harvested ripe or almost ripe, when they are already dark. Olives darkened by oxidation are picked earlier and turn dark during processing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One thing, though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Natural black olives can also come in a can. This is not a difference in packaging. It is a difference in ripening and processing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At Son Mesquidassa, we offer <a href=\"https:\/\/sonmesquidassa.com\/en\/product\/natural-black-olives-330-gr\/\">natural black olives from Mallorca<\/a>. But each preparation has its uses. Here is what to look for when choosing yours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#comparison\">A quick comparison<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#ripening-processing\">Ripening and processing<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#reading-label\">How to recognise them on the label<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#flavour-uses-price\">Flavour, uses and price<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#frequently-asked-questions\">Frequently asked questions<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#son-mesquidassa\">The Son Mesquidassa option<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"comparison\">Natural black olives vs canned black olives: a quick comparison<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this table, \u201ccanned\u201d refers to the familiar black olives darkened by oxidation, rather than every olive sold in a can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>What you are comparing<\/th><th>Natural black olives<\/th><th>Olives darkened by oxidation<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Harvest time<\/td><td>Fully ripe or shortly before full ripeness.<\/td><td>Green or changing colour, before fully ripening.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Where the colour comes from<\/td><td>The fruit ripening on the olive tree.<\/td><td>Oxidation during processing.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Appearance<\/td><td>Purple, brown, reddish or black shades, depending on the fruit.<\/td><td>Brown to black, usually with a very uniform colour.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Preparation<\/td><td>Processing is needed to reduce bitterness; brining is one option.<\/td><td>Typically, alkaline treatment, washing, aeration and sterilisation.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Colour stabilisers<\/td><td>The colour develops through ripening; check each product\u2019s ingredients.<\/td><td>May contain ferrous gluconate or ferrous lactate.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Why choose them<\/td><td>To explore a particular variety and preparation, especially as an appetiser.<\/td><td>For recipes where you want a uniform result and ready-sliced options.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ripening-processing\">The first difference starts on the tree<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Natural black olives: the fruit is already dark<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Olives change colour as they ripen. <a href=\"https:\/\/sonmesquidassa.com\/en\/a-sea-of-olive-trees\/\">If left on the tree<\/a>, they develop the shades associated with their maturity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Purple. Brown. Black.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.boe.es\/buscar\/act.php?id=BOE-A-2016-11953#a4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Spanish quality standard for table olives<\/a> distinguishes natural black olives, harvested ripe or almost ripe, from olives darkened by oxidation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is why natural black olives can have different shades. They do not have to be wrinkled either: their appearance depends on the variety and preparation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Does natural mean eaten straight from the tree?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They also need processing to reduce their bitterness and preserve them. Brine, a mixture of water and salt, is one common preparation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Olives darkened by oxidation: the colour develops later<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These start as green olives or olives beginning to change colour. The usual process combines alkaline treatment to reduce bitterness, washing and aeration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When exposed to oxygen, compounds in the fruit oxidise and darken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Iron salts may then be added to stabilise that colour. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.internationaloliveoil.org\/olive-world\/table-olives\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">International Olive Council explains this process<\/a>, which includes sterilising the canned product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They are real olives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-f56f613f wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sonmesquidassa.com\/en\/product\/natural-black-olives-330-gr\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sonmesquidassa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Oliva-Negra-Natural-330g-800x800.jpg\" alt=\"Son Mesquidassa natural black olives, 330 g jar\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sonmesquidassa.com\/en\/product\/natural-black-olives-330-gr\/\">Natural black olives 330 g<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/sonmesquidassa.com\/en\/product\/natural-black-olives-330-gr\/\" style=\"background-color:#476e45\">View details and availability<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sonmesquidassa.com\/en\/product\/natural-black-olives-1000-gr\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sonmesquidassa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Oliva-Negra-Natural-1000g-800x800.jpg\" alt=\"Son Mesquidassa natural black olives, 1,000 g jar\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sonmesquidassa.com\/en\/product\/natural-black-olives-1000-gr\/\">Natural black olives 1,000 g<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/sonmesquidassa.com\/en\/product\/natural-black-olives-1000-gr\/\" style=\"background-color:#476e45\">View details and availability<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Calling them \u201cfake olives\u201d is misleading. What differs is how they become black.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"reading-label\">How to tell whether black olives are naturally ripe<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Turn the pack over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The product name and ingredients tell you more than the shade of black in the photograph.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Look for the description \u201cnatural black olives\u201d. Check the information about ripening and processing too.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check for ferrous gluconate, E-579, ferrous lactate or E-585. These are stabilisers used in olives darkened by oxidation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Look at the variety and origin. \u201cBlack olives\u201d alone tells you little about the fruit you are going to eat.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If the description is unclear, ask the producer. The absence of these additives does not, by itself, prove how the colour was obtained.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What ferrous gluconate and ferrous lactate do<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They help maintain the dark colour achieved during oxidation. Their role is to stabilise it, rather than replace the fruit\u2019s ripening process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Their use is regulated. Finding them on the label does not make a pack of olives harmful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Choosing a recipe without these stabilisers is a valid preference too. It helps to distinguish a preference from a cause for alarm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"flavour-uses-price\">Flavour, uses and price: which olives suit your table?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">For appetisers and pa amb oli<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here, we would choose natural black olives of a known variety and origin. Served on their own, their flesh, seasoning and bitterness are easier to appreciate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bread is enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For natural black olives covered by the Oliva de Mallorca PDO, the specification describes soft, juicy, unctuous flesh with a slight bitterness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A combination that invites you to try them with tomato and <a href=\"https:\/\/sonmesquidassa.com\/en\/product\/joan-rossello-500-ml\/\">Joan Rossell\u00f3 extra virgin olive oil<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Taste everything together before adding salt. If you finish the dish with <a href=\"https:\/\/sonmesquidassa.com\/en\/product\/flower-of-salt-120-gr\/\">our fleur de sel from Mallorca<\/a>, start with a small pinch and taste again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">For pizzas, pasta and quick recipes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you buy sliced black olives to scatter over a pizza, convenience matters. That format saves you the work of pitting and slicing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It has its place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can cook with natural black olives too. Remove the stones, chop the flesh and try adding it to tomato pasta or a slice of toast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Intensity depends on the variety, brine and seasoning. \u201cNatural\u201d and \u201cdarkened by oxidation\u201d cannot tell you everything about the flavour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to compare prices fairly<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check the drained weight when olives are packed in liquid. The total weight of a preserve may include water you will not be eating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then compare like with like: whole or pitted, variety, origin and preparation. The price per jar does not tell the whole story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Think about how much you will eat too. The larger jar is practical for sharing; the smaller one may suit occasional servings better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"frequently-asked-questions\">Frequently asked questions about black olives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Are all canned black olives darkened by oxidation?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A can is a container. To understand the product, check its name, ingredients and the producer\u2019s information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Are natural black olives always wrinkled?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not necessarily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Drying and preparation affect the skin. Wrinkles, shine or colour cannot identify them with certainty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Are natural black olives always healthier?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not by definition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The origin of the colour does not determine the nutritional profile on its own. Compare each product\u2019s information, including its salt content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can I recognise oxidation-darkened olives by the code E-579?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is a clue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It identifies ferrous gluconate, a colour-retention agent. The label may use its full name instead, or list ferrous lactate, E-585.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"son-mesquidassa\">Son Mesquidassa natural black olives: your next appetiser<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you are looking for olives that developed their colour while ripening on the tree, this is our offering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Natural black olives of the Mallorquina variety, from Felanitx. Our product pages list three ingredients: natural black olives, water and salt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>Size<\/th><th>When it might suit you<\/th><th>Product details<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>330 g<\/td><td>For trying them or serving them as an occasional appetiser.<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/sonmesquidassa.com\/en\/product\/natural-black-olives-330-gr\/\">Natural black olives 330 g<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1,000 g<\/td><td>For sharing, or if olives have a regular place at your table.<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/sonmesquidassa.com\/en\/product\/natural-black-olives-1000-gr\/\">Natural black olives 1,000 g<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each product page shows the price and availability. You will also find other accompaniments in the <a href=\"https:\/\/sonmesquidassa.com\/en\/shop-online\/\">Son Mesquidassa shop<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To start with, a small plate, bread and tomato. Plenty of room for the olives to make themselves known.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Natural black olives versus those darkened by oxidation: compare production methods, flavor, and labels. Discover the Mallorcan option from Son Mesquidassa.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":198,"featured_media":18210,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[86],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18209","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gastronomy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sonmesquidassa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18209","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sonmesquidassa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sonmesquidassa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sonmesquidassa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/198"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sonmesquidassa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18209"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sonmesquidassa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18209\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18217,"href":"https:\/\/sonmesquidassa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18209\/revisions\/18217"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sonmesquidassa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18210"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sonmesquidassa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18209"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sonmesquidassa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18209"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sonmesquidassa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18209"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}