Discover Olives – A Stone Fruit with History

Sep 22, 2022 by Chef David

By Chef David

Olives come from one of the oldest fruit trees in the world, dating back to biblical times. According to archeological research, people have been producing olive oil in the Middle East for over 8,000 years.  Olives are a traditional Middle Eastern stone fruit (from the drupes family). There are no green olive trees. The color is an indication of ripeness, green olives are immature, and as they ripen their color changes, going through the color spectrum with the most mature fruit being a deep black or purple color.

Immature olives are bitter. They first undergo curing, a fermentation process, to create the snacking delicacy we have grown to enjoy. While there are a great many varieties of olives, we sampled two brands The Rebbe’s Choice certified by the OK, and Mina Moroccan certified by the OU.

All Olives Begin Green

Green olives are picked at the start of the season. Sometimes they are artificially turned black by adding oxygen and a chemical compound, ferrous gluconate to change their color.

The olives we are used to eating are produced using a curing process, that transforms them imparting a salty taste and a tender texture. During the curing, the olive’s natural sugars turn into lactic acid. And there are three primary ways to cure olives.

1. Brine-cured – Ripened black or purple olives are put in salt water for up to a year. Brine-cured olives tend to be sweet with a depth of flavor.
2. Dry-cured olives are put in salt for a month to extract moisture and bitterness, after which the salt is removed, and the olives are put in oil to soften. They tend to be wrinkled and have a concentrated flavor.
3. Some commercial producers cure with lye because it is faster, but it robs the olive of some flavor.

Olives vary by region and preparation, each with a distinctive color, aroma, and taste.

The Taste of Great Olives

Mina Moroccan green olives are firm, plump, and bursting with flavor. Ingredient-wise they are simply pitted green olives, water, and sea salt. Mina uses picholine olives grown on a family farm in Morocco.

The brand was inspired by the family matriarch. Mina grew up in Casablanca, Morocco in the 1950s, where century-old recipes were passed from generation to generation. She made these recipes her own by adding extra virgin olive oil, and garlic.  Mina left Morocco,  traveling to Paris, and finally to New York where she opened a catering business. In 2010 her children created a brand to share her recipes, which include sauces, extra virgin olive oil, and olives.

With its spicy olive mix, Mina Moroccan kicks its flavor profile up a notch. By adding chili pepper and lemon to their mix in extra virgin olive oil they add a savory twist and orange tint to this classic. Their mix combines green olives with purple Beldi olives for a guilt-free flavor, a single serving of three olives contains 35 calories. For those who prefer a more traditional taste, they sell this olive mix without spice.  A perfect addition to your meal as a snack or a side. Watch out for the pits and enjoy!

The Rebbe’s Choice was inspired by a yeshiva student, Naftali Engel who while studying in Israel in 2014 became fascinated with herring.  He pursued this hobby and created The Rebbe’s Choice, where Heimish meets high-end, with amazing flavors and high-quality ingredients.  Along with a wide variety of fish, they offer the most interesting selection of green olives, grilled, or stuffed with Jalapeno and Garlic. These olives make the perfect salty and spicy bite, our favorite was jalapeno which was flavorful but not overly spicy.

Rebbe’s unusual flavor pairings make a unique side dish, or appetizer to whet your appetite. We enjoyed stuffed olives, crisp olives generously stuffed with a savory center.  Their unique mouth appeal and complementary flavors accentuate the tastes of the accompanying meal by introducing flavors that blend without sharpness. As with the Mina Moroccan brand, the oil adds an incredible taste.   The grilled olive was an unexpected taste, an unlikely olive experience, one to be sampled.

More than a Garnish

Olives are more than a decoration, the color that accentuates a dish, or the garnish for your cocktail. They, like other fermented foods, have health benefits. Introduce these amazing flavors which can tie together any dish by adding flavor and character. Both Mina Moroccan green olives and The Rebbe’s Choice can be purchased online. Gourmet olives provide a refreshing change from the mass-produced commercial kosher olives, putting them in a league of their own.

Consider adding olives to your kiddush or your Shabbos table.