Niçoise Olives are not a variety of olives, but rather a style of prepared olives. The olives come from the same tree, “Cailletier”, as do the olives used to make Liguria Olives. The Cailletier trees are grown in France around Nice.The olives are small with a large pit and very little flesh. They are allowed to ripen on the tree to a dark colour that ranges from black brownish-purple to brownish-black.
They are cured in brine, then packed and shipped in olive oil, often with added herbs. They have a flavour that is sour, sharp and rich.
Because the olives are small and the flesh is hard to detach from the pit, they are sold unpitted.
Cailletier olives can also be used for oil.