You might be surprised to find out that there is no difference black and green olives other than their level of ripeness. All olives begin as green and slowly transform to light brown and reddish-purple before fully ripening and becoming dark black. There are about 140 varieties of olives grown in 23 countries including Mediterranean and Californian locations .
Kalamata olives are probably the most well known in Ireland along with Nocellara & Manzanilla. Olives are widely available in supermarkets, delis, health stores and farmers markets where you can often find amazing fresh olive stalls. They can be bought fresh, canned or tinned but another surprising fact is that there is no great difference between the quality of olives in any of these forms. As they can be quite bitter, they are often marinated or stuffed to take the edge off.
When it comes to olive oil, you can pay anything from €4 to €30 or more depending on the source. There are some really good quality brands out there but it is really down to its intended use. When frying or sauteing with the oil, there is no point in spending a fortune but when adding to salads or making a dressing, it is nice to have a good bottle of extra virgin to hand.
Read more about the health benefits of olives here. (Healthline)
Add comment
Comments