I've always thought olives were gross. I don't know anything about them. I was probably just eating them wrong. This is what I've learned so far, and what I'm trying because of it.
From what I've read, a ripe olive off the tree is bitter, and curing is what takes that out. A finished one is supposed to be salty, fruity, and a little tangy. If a jar still tastes like aspirin, the idea is that's a bad cure, not the olive. I'll set those aside if I run into one.
The plan I'm trying is mild greens first. Castelvetrano to start. What I've got so far is that it's a Sicilian olive, Nocellara del Belice, bright green, cured the day it's picked, and it skips the long fermentation. That's supposed to be why it stays buttery. I haven't eaten enough of them to say that myself. Frescatrano is next. Greek Halkidiki, and from what I can tell it's the same kind of cure on a different fruit, so I'm not just buying the same olive twice. Kalamata comes after that. Darker, and the cure is supposed to be louder. Salt, red wine vinegar, and a fermented tang. Not this trip.
What I bought
Frankies 457 Castelvetrano and Divina Frescatrano. 27 Sep 2026.
I got a Frankies 457 Castelvetrano, whole, pit still in. Bright green, packed in brine. From what I was told, it's the same Sicilian olive as a Partanna. And a Divina Frescatrano, whole, from the cold case. It's more gold than the Frankies. I was told that's just the fruit. Neither jar is pitted. The ingredient list is short. Olives, water, salt, and an acid in the brine.
The pits
The flesh is stuck to the pit on both of these. I pressed a Divina with the flat of a knife and smashed it. A slit and a straight punch didn't get the Castelvetrano off the pit either. The Castelvetrano tastes better. Same problem.
I'm eating them off the pit until a pitter gets here. Olive in, chew the flesh off, take the pit out.
I ordered a Westmark Olivus, the black edition (paid link). It's an olive pitter made in Germany. From what I've read, you set the stem end up, one squeeze, over a bowl, and the pit comes out the bottom. A few pits are supposed to be too big and stay in. I'll eat those off the pit if that happens. I haven't used it yet.
That's as far as I've gotten.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
