How Are Olives Processes?

[sandyRoe]

Pick one off a tree and it tastes terrible. What's done to them to make so moreish?

[Buenchico]

You need to cure them before eating them:
https://www.thespruceeats.com/brining-and-curing-olives-1808582

[maggiebee]

Naturally cured olives are cured with either oil or brine and additives like wine vinegar for flavour. Lye treatment is done to remove the bitterness of the olive. ... In order to produce edible olives, harvested olives are cleaned and then cured in a natural brine of salt, oil, and flavourings or artificially with lye.

[Mexican18]

They are not processed. All fruit tastes bad when not ripe. Are you sure it wasn't an ornamental olive. I have a 14 years old olive tree and never had even 1 olive. Not enough sunshine!

[Mexican18]

I stand corrected.

[mallyh]

when they make virgin oil can only females pick them x

[retrocop]

They are poisonous when eaten straight off the tree and not fully ripened. They are usually ready for harvesting around November and are shaken off the tree by people with long sticks. Most Med Olive grove owners are members of a Cooperative who take their harvest to the local wine press where it is weighed. Usually the olive Press keep part of the oil as part payment for the processing from fruit to oil. I have visited several Olive Presses in the Greek Islands and some have museums. The Olive Press in Lesvos was a worthwhile visit. We stayed in a converted Olive processing plant called 'The Olive Press'.

[gingejbee]

"they are not processed"......wrong.

[retrocop]

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g1191013-d316864-Reviews-Olive_Press_Hotel-Molyvos_Lesbos_Northeast_Aegean_Islands.html

[retrocop]

https://health.howstuffworks.com/food-nutrition/10-foods-you-should-never-eat-raw8.htm

[gness]

A decent wine helps, Sandy.... ;-)

[retrocop]

It was incorrect for me to describe them as poisonous but clearly they are very bitter and unpalatable straight from the tree. I think a Greek farmer told me they were poisonous to deter the others. :-)

[Mexican18]

Ginge, I did say I was wrong!

[calmck]

I pick mine, rinse them, check for creepy crawlies, slightly crush them. Put in container with crushed garlic, oregano, water, olive oil. Change water mixture every three days. Usually ready to eat after two weeks

[calmck]

In Portugal you cannot pick olives that do not belong to you and it is also illegal to pick almond blossom as each flower technically will form a nut

[bednobs]

"when they make virgin oil can only females pick them x "
why, men can be virgins too!

[Vagus]

Oh how I wish you hadn’t mentioned olives sandy!
It made me remember I had a jar of them in the cupboard so I went and got them...black kalamata ones. Fatal to open the jar as Ive just eaten the last one.
They were soft, pitted and delicious.
And now I feel slightly sick :(

[Apc2604]

That's what happens to me Vagus when I open a tin, especially if they are stuffed with anchovies!

[bednobs]

I like the garlic stuffed ones

[Vagus]

Anchovies, garlic, oh crikey, now I’m going to have to order some in our next click and collect!
My all time favourite way of eating them is threaded on a cocktail stick with an anchovy.
I’m not going to sleep again until I’ve had one.

[Togo]

Olives.....what's not to like. Nothing beats a couple or 3 olives and a glass of good Fino chilled. Earlier as I am inclined to, I had my aperitif of "Tesco Finest" Jalapeno stuffed Halkidiki olives and a glass of Palamino Fino, Tio Pepe from the Gonzales Byass winery. Good for my constitution and ver, ver, civilising.