APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR DEBITTERING OLIVES AND OLIVES OBTAINED THEREBY

1 . A process for debittering olives without intentional fermentation or lye treatment, the process comprising:

providing at least one container loaded with olives;

contacting an aqueous acidic brine with the olives under conditions sufficient to release at least some of any bitter compounds therefrom; and

contacting the aqueous acidic brine with an adsorbent resin so as to remove one or more of any bitter compounds or colouring compounds from the aqueous acidic brine that has been in contact with the olives.

2 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the aqueous acidic brine within the at least one container is maintained at a desired value of pH that is no higher than about 4.3 and at a desired value of salinity that is at least about 5% w/v of the aqueous acidic brine.

3 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the adsorbent resin is an ion exchange resin.

4 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the adsorbent resin is disposed within the at least one container.

5 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the adsorbent resin is disposed external to the at least one container.

6 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the process is conducted in a continuous manner.

7 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the aqueous acidic brine is contacted with the olives at a temperature of from about 5° C. to about 40° C. for a period of about 2 weeks to about 20 weeks.

8 . The process according to claim 1 , further comprising:

providing at least one container loaded with olives;

contacting an aqueous acidic brine with the olives under conditions sufficient to release at least some of any bitter compounds therefrom;

circulating the aqueous acidic brine within the at least one container;

maintaining the circulating aqueous acidic brine within the at least one container at a desired value of pH that is no higher than about 4.3 and at a desired value of salinity that is at least about 5% w/v of the aqueous acidic brine; and

contacting the aqueous acidic brine with an adsorbent resin so as to remove one or more of any bitter compounds or colouring compounds from the aqueous acidic brine that has been in contact with the olives.

9 . A process for producing table olives having a desired level of saltiness and/or bitterness, the process comprising:

providing at least one container loaded with olives;

contacting an aqueous acidic brine with the olives under conditions sufficient to release at least some of any bitter compounds therefrom;

circulating the aqueous acidic brine within the at least one container;

maintaining the circulating aqueous acidic brine within the at least one container at a desired value of pH that is no higher than about 4.3 and at a desired value of salinity that is at least about 5% w/v of the aqueous acidic brine;

contacting the circulating aqueous acidic brine with the olives in the container until a desired level of saltiness and/or bitterness is reached in a majority of the olives;

contacting the aqueous acidic brine with an adsorbent resin so as to remove one or more of any bitter compounds or colouring compounds from the aqueous acidic brine that has been in contact with the olives.

10 . (canceled)

11 . An apparatus for use in debittering olives, which comprises:

at least one container configured to hold olives;

a pump configured to circulate an aqueous acidic brine within the at least one container, which is in fluid communication with the at least one container;

one or more dosing apparatus in fluid connection with the at least one container and configured to maintain the circulating aqueous acidic brine within the at least one container at a desired volume or level within the container and at a desired value of pH that is below about 4.3 and at a desired value of salinity that is at least about 5% w/v of the aqueous acidic brine; and

an adsorbent resin configured to contact the aqueous acidic brine so as to remove one or more of any bitter compounds or colouring compounds from the aqueous acidic brine that has been in contact with the olives.

12 . The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the adsorbent resin is disposed within the at least one container.

13 . The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the adsorbent resin is disposed external to the at least one container.

14 . The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the adsorbent resin is disposed within and external to the at least one container.