Tag: Unsalted olives

While virtually all commercially prepared olives contain high amounts of sodium from the curing process, a few specialized producers do offer innovative, salt-free options. Contrary to popular belief, fresh olives are naturally bitter and inedible straight from the tree, so some form of curing is always necessary to make them palatable. The salt-free alternatives achieve this edibility through unique, extended processing methods that forgo the traditional salt brine.

Did you know that fresh olives plucked from a tree are inedibly bitter due to a compound called oleuropein? To remove this bitterness, olives must undergo a curing process, which typically involves salt. This leads many to question: **can you get olives without sodium?**

Over 90% of olives available commercially undergo a brining process involving high salt levels. But for those managing their sodium intake, the question of which olives have no salt is a critical one. While true salt-free olives are rare, several options exist for enjoying this healthy fruit with minimal or no added sodium.