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Different Types of Olives

Posted on July 14, 2021 by Christopher Armstrong

Gourmet olive varieties are widely available and come in a range of flavors.

Here are just ten of the more common kinds of olives and a brief description of each.

Green olives with herbs de Provence: This vibrant citrus flavored olive is a fantastic match with fish and in recipes calling for sweet spices. Herbs de Provence is a beautiful blend of spices which may be utilised in everything from eggs to soufflé.

Nicoises: This earthy rich olive oil is traditionally utilised in nicoise salad. It's a tiny black olive cured in red-wine vinegar.

Mount Athos green with Sicilian herbs: This olive oil packs a punch, it's flavored with garlic, rosemary, mustard seed, and red pepper flakes. It's an fantastic olive to be used in bruchetta topping, on salads, and in tapenade.

Mount Athos green filled with garlic: This is the traditional martini olive stuffed with a clove of garlic. It's pitted then stuffed and ideal for pizzas, snacking, and a modern sophisticated martini.

Mount Athos green olives with sun-dried berries: This rich thick olive is perfect in salads and for snacking. The intense flavor of this sun-dried tomatoes blends beautifully with the intense flavor of this olive.

Lucques: This olive oil is excellent for snacking. The pit is still in tact so care needs to be taken not to swallow the pit. It's a pleasure to chew this meaty mild buttery olive.

Kalamatas: This tangy green to black olive is treated in red-wine vinegar and is tender but not mushy. Varieties grown in California are denoted by spelling using a'c' instead of a'k'. Kalamatas are wonderful on pizzas, with feta or mixed with cream cheese and fresh garlic for a dip.

Alfonsos: This strong winey tasting olive is tender and like the kalamata. It's a popular option in antipasto salads.

Halkidikis: This is a large dried black olive that's mild in taste and less salty than a number of the other varieties. It pairs nicely with mild sheep's milk cheeses.

Sun-dried olives: This olive is rich and intense in flavor. It's used in sauces or can be drizzled with extra virgin olive oil for a daring snack.