Aglandau Olives are grown in Provence, particularly in the counties of Aix en Provence and Salon de Provence. They are grown for making both oil and green table olives from. The oil is considered very high quality: it has a very pronounced fruity taste and stores well. Prepared as table olives, they can be bought…
French Olives
Bouteillan Olives
These olives are grown for oil. They have a high oil yield. The flesh clings to the pit. The oil is usually used as a blending oil with other olive oils. The tree needs another type of olive tree to cross-pollinate with. It is grown in Provence, France; some trees are now being grown in…
Grossane Olives
Grossane Olives are large, round olives that are harvested when black. The flesh separates easily from the pit. They can be used to make a fragrant oil, but the oil has a short shelf life. They are used mostly for producing “Olives Noires de la Vallée des Baux de Provence.” They are grown in France…
Lucques Olives
Lucques Olives are grown in France primarily for use as green table olives. They are “freestone” olives: the flesh doesn’t cling to the pit. The olives have a long, slightly curved shape. Cured in brine, they are crisp with good, full flavour. The olives can also be used to produce a good oil, but the…
Niçoise Olives
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…
Nyons Olives
Nyons Olives are made from Tanche Olives grown in Nyons, France. The olives are pricked on all sides then dry-cured, then brined for 6 months. They end up wrinkly, dark black and shiny, tasting mildly salty and bitter. They are packed in olive oil. Cooking Tips Good in cooking, particularly in Tapenade.
Olives Les Baux de Provence
Olives Noires de la Vallée des Baux de Provence (full name) is a style of olives made in Provence from olives from Grossane trees (which grow in the same area, Vallée des Baux de Provence.) The style of processing the olives is AOC protected.The olives are harvested in December when the olives are changing from…
Picholine Olives
Picholine Olives are the most widely available variety of olives in France. The tree generally needs another olive tree for good pollination. The olives are small to medium-sized, and pointed at one end. The pit is smooth, but the chewy, fruity flesh clings to it. The olives are grown for making both oil and green…
Provençal Olives
Provençal Olives are not a botanical variety of olive, but rather Picholine Olives prepared in a certain way. Cured Picholine Olives are marinated in oil with herbs such as thyme and lavender, and spices and garlic. You can buy these black or green, pitted or unpitted.
Salonenque Olives
Salonenque Olives are grown mostly to make Vallée des Baux Cracked Olives with, though they are also used for oil. The flesh of the olives separates easily from the pit. The oil yield is average. The tree can pollinate itself sometimes, but not always reliably. It flowers early, and the olives ripen late. The tree…
Tailladées Olives
Tailladées Olives can be green or black (the black are actually quite purple with pink overtones.) They are very meaty olives with a sour taste made in Provence. Thin slashes are made into the olives to let brine penetrate them better while curing. Lemons are also added to the brine. The olives are shipped and…
Tanche Olives
Tanche Olives are grown in the area of Nyons, Provence, for making both black table olives and oil from. They are medium-sized olives with large pits. The olives ripen to a reddish-brown, and contain 20 to 25% oil. Locals say it was brought to the area by the Romans. The olive received AOC designation in…
Vallée des Baux Cracked Olives
This is a style of prepared olive made from Salonenque olives. They are flavoured with anise or fennel. The proper full name is “Olives cassées de la Vallée des Baux de Provence.” These olives received their AOC in 1997.
Verdale Olives
A type of olive tree grown in Provence, France for making oil from. Its large olives have a good, strong olive flavour with very little bitterness, making the oil seem almost a bit sweet. In Australia, the trees are also grown for making table olives from. They are picked early, while they are still green…