Olives varieties are
also called ‘cultivar’. There is a huge range
of olives varieties or cultivar in the world, originating
from different Mediterranean countries. Different varieties
of olives give oils with different flavours and colours; also,
some cultivar are better for oil and not all of the olive
varieties produce olives that can be eaten, some of them are
only good to make oil.
Each olive cultivar has its preferences in terms of soil and
climatic conditions, thus different varieties of olive trees
grow better in some places rather than others and bear fruit
in different times of the year.
The fact that some olives are green and some black, depends
only on how ripe the olive was when it was picked: the darker
the olive, the riper it is. In this page we highlight only
some of the most common olive varieties or cultivar.
FRANTOIO Olives
Where it grows: Tuscany and central regions of Italy
Characteristics of the olive: the fruit is big (it weighs
about 2gr) and when it is ripe it becomes red/purple
Type of oil: very high quality olive oil, fruity and aromatic
Is this a table olive: no
MORAIOLO Olives
Where it grows: Tuscany, Umbria, Mediterranean
Characteristics of the olive: the olive is small and round
and it is black when ripe
Type of oil: very good quality olive oil, fruity, green colour
NOCELLARA DEL BELICE Olives
Where it grows: on the Mediterranean islands
Characteristics of the olive: the olive is big (it can weigh
up to 7gr)
Type of oil: fruity and light
Is this a table olive: yes
MANZANILLA Olives
Where it grows: Spain (Andalusia) and Italy
Characteristics of the olive: big fruit, it can weigh between
4 and 6 grams
Is this a table olive: yes, this is the most common olive
in brine found in the supermarkets
KALAMATA Olives
Where it grows: Greece
Characteristics of the olive: the fruit is oval and long
Is this a table olive: yes
 CAROLEA
Olives
Where it grows: Calabria (in the south of Italy)
Characteristics of the olive: big olive, it weighs about 5-6
grams
Type of oil: medium fruity, golden colour
Is this a table olive: yes
CORATINA Olives
 Where
it grows: Puglia and southern Italy
Characteristics of the olive: big and oval olive, it becomes
black late
Type of oil: fruity, intense and spicy
Is this a table olive: yes
Other varieties include: Leccino (Tuscany and central Italy),
Pendolino (Tuscany and central Italy), Maurino (Tuscany),
Rossellino (central Italy), Olivastra Seggianese (Tuscany,
Monte Amiata), Casaliva (northern Italy), Ogliarola (Puglia,
it produces very good oil), Taggiasca (Liguria), Peranzana
(Puglia), Carbocella (Lazio and Tuscany), Ascolana (good for
green olives in brine), Bella di Puglia (used for green olives
in brine), Hojiblanca (Spain, good for oil but not for table
olives) and many more. |
