Olives

[Harbo]

I have a small European Olive tree that produce quite a lot of olives this year.
Do the olives have to be treated in some way - I tried one of mine - just a gentle bite , but YUKK!! it was foul Very bitter taste that lingered for a very long while. The rest I have left to rot, but it seems a shame if they can be processed some way?

Rod

 

[Steve Maskery]

I'm no olive expert, it's a taste I've never really acquired, but I do know that in the med there are trees that produce olives for eating and one that produce olives for oil, and ne'er the twain shall meet.

So that's really good news, you now have an olive-press-making project on!

CHeers
Steve

 

[Bodrighy]

http://www.olivesetal.co.uk/olive-expert/olives/

Try this site, sounds like you are picking too early.

Pete

 

[Harbo]

Thanks for the link Pete - I think this explains it :-
"Whilst olives can be picked at any stage, the degree of ripeness determines the taste and green olives are totally inedible without being cured.
In their untreated state, green olives are very bitter and it is surprising that people ever discovered they were edible. Commercially produced olives are usually soaked in a soda solution to remove the bitter taste, they are then washed in clean water and finally packed in brine."

Mine were green going on black - black ones only need a soak in brine.
I think I will try that.

Rod

 

[Russell]

Olives taste like how I imagine ear wax to taste! :lol: