Characterisation of Olive Oils from the Douro Valley, Portugal: Study of the Volatile Fraction and Its Relationship with Sensory Characteristics

In recent years, the demand for olive oils from the Douro region (Portugal) has increased in line with wine. Thus, it is essential to characterise these olive oils to evaluate them. Therefore, this work describes the sensory and volatile profiles of olive oils produced in the Douro region. These wer...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kevin Silva, Nuno Rodrigues, José Alberto Pereira, Elsa Ramalhosa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-09-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/18/9246
Description
Summary:In recent years, the demand for olive oils from the Douro region (Portugal) has increased in line with wine. Thus, it is essential to characterise these olive oils to evaluate them. Therefore, this work describes the sensory and volatile profiles of olive oils produced in the Douro region. These were mainly identified as ripe fruity. Among the olfactory and gustatory sensations, the attributes of dried fruits, tomato, apple, tomato leaves, banana, and lavender stood out. Regarding volatile compounds, the following were detected in all samples: (<i>E</i>)-2-hexenal, (<i>Z</i>)-3-hexen-1-ol, (<i>E</i>)-2-hexen-1-ol, (<i>Z</i>)-3-hexen-1-ol acetate, 1-hexanol, and 2-methyl-4-pentanal. Moreover, it was impossible to separate the olive oils by sub-regions. In conclusion, studying the volatile fraction and their relationship with sensory attributes are essential to guarantee the genuineness and identity of these olive oils with a view to their future appreciation.
ISSN:2076-3417