Olives (
Olea europaea) of the Manzanilla and Verdial varieties, harvested at the green mature stageof ripening, were heated at 30, 40, 45, and 50
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C during 24 h and at 40
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C during 24, 48, and 72 h,respectively. Just after treatments, oils were physically extracted from the olives. Olive heatingpromotes a reduction of oil bitterness in direct relationship to the time and temperature used. Fruitheating at
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40
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C during 24 h did not produce significant changes of acidity, UV absorption, peroxideindex, panel test score, or oxidative stability of the obtained oils. Both longer treatments at 40
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Cand heating at >40
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C yielded oils with less oxidative stability. Oils obtained from olives heated at
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40
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C showed higher concentrations of chlorophylls and carotenes. For each olive variety, a goodcorrelation between oil bitterness and content of hydroxytyrosol secoiridoid derivatives was found.Keywords: Olea europaea; postharvest; olive oil bitterness; olive thermal treatment