The Effect of Variety and Maturity on Quality Criteria and Sensory Properties of Hatay Olive Oil

Abstract

In this study, the quality criteria and sensory properties of olive oil samples of Saurani, Karamani and Halhali olive varieties collected in 3 different harvest times from Hatay province were investigated depending on the variety and harvest time. For this purpose, in olives; oil yield and ripening index, in the obtained olive oils; free fatty acids, peroxide number, UV specific absorbance and sensory properties were determined. The oil content of olives ranges between 23.77-34.77% and the highest oil yield was determined in the olive variety, Karamani (3rd maturity). In olive oils, free fatty acids were found in the range of 0.33-1.02% (oleic acid), K232 values ranging between 0.33-0.88, K270 values ranging between 0.004-0.177 and peroxide numbers between 2.47-8.40 meq O2/kg. The total phenolic content values of olive oils vary between 156.78-584.25 mg GAE/kg, and the highest phenolic content was determined during the first harvest of the Halhali variety. It was determined that the amount of phenolic content of the cultivars decreased with maturity. In the sensory analysis of olive oil samples, fruitiness was determined as greater than 0 by all panelists. The median of fruitiness in olive oil samples ranged from 3.62 to 5.88, and the median of fruitiness decreased with maturity in all varieties. The median of bitterness ranged from 2.62-5.23 and decreased with maturity. The pungency median varied in the range of 3.12-5.34, and pungency was reduced with maturity. The median of fruitiness, bitterness and pungency of Halhali olive oil was determined the highest.