In the realm of elevated snacks, it doesn’t get more chic than an olive.
The fruit of a tree that traditionally grows around the Mediterranean Basin, the humble and delicious olive has given us so much.
From making martinis beautifully dirty and being cold-pressed into olive oil, to garnishing salads and keeping our poolside G&T company, a good olive always has a place at our table.
The burning question is: green or black, which is best? While there is a difference in flavour and texture, a green and black olive is, in fact, the same olive at different stages of ripening.
Green olives are younger, with a firm, dense texture and are harvested in early autumn between September and October. Green olives tend to have less fat than black but most of it is monounsaturated oleic acid which helps reduce inflammation and heart disease.
There are lots more health benefits too: olives are naturally rich in antioxidants, and can lower blood pressure - some even claim they can aid weight loss (when enjoyed in moderation).
And thanks to Instagram meme account Real Housewives of Clapton, a certain brand of olive now even has cult status. RHOC put Perello olives on the map and by extension, in an increasing number of kitchen cupboards. A can of Perello’s giant olives is now an expected feature to roll out at cheese and wine nights with pals.
But there are other contenders to a precious Perello - we’ve rounded up the best of them below. Why not have a nibble?
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Perelló Spanish Gordal Pitted Green Olives, 150g
Like your olives on the spicier side? Feel like you’re sunning yourself on the Med with a handy can of the iconic - because at this point, is there any other descriptor? - Perello olives. These queen-sized Spanish beauties are giant, juicy and pitted sparing teeth from chomping down on a wayward stone. Chunks of guindilla green peppers make these truly addictive; why not forward plan and get a multipack instead?
Buy now £3.75, Amazon
Waitrose No.1 Nocellara Olives
Hailing from Sicily, the giant Nocellara variety is considered the upper crust of the olive world. A nibble confirms this: firm yet buttery and packed with flavour. Eat with caution, however, as the stones have been left inside the fruit. We know packaging isn’t everything but the minibar-like glass jar with a pale gold lid deserves a shoutout too.
Buy now £3.70, Waitrose
Real Olive Co – ‘Garlic, Pepper & Mustard Seed Olives’
Whether you’re throwing a party or sleep easier knowing you have a healthy supply of olives in the house, this 1kg bucket of olives is the key to your savoury prayers. The mix, doused in cold-pressed olive oil, contains green and purple varieties from Kalamata, along with chopped garlic, red pepper and a sprinkling of mustard seeds for tiny bursts of flavour.
Buy now £20.95, Amazon
F&M Pitted Green Olives in Brine
Look, there’s fancy olives, and then there’s M&S olives.
And THEN there are olives from Fortnum’s for which we need to construct a whole new tier altogether. This simple jar of pitted green olives is the sort of thing you want in your larder - and not just to smarten the shelves up a bit. The olive treasures inside are useful for everything from satisfying a quick craving, jazzing up homemade focaccia or giving salad and pizza a salty topping.
Buy now £7.95, F&M
Unearthed Nocellara & Leccino Olives
Black Tuscan and Sicilian green olives are combined in Unearthed’s offering here, offering flavours from across Italy. They’re the perfect thing to decant into your prettiest bowl and set up besides bottles of chilled rose and crisps when friends pop over.
Buy now £3.65, Waitrose
M&S Collection Giant Nocellara Olives
The olive world is very much a Nocellara’s world. The giant variety comes with the stone in for extra flavour with an initial silky smooth mouthfeel thanks to the drizzle of Italian EVOO.
Buy now £4.00, Ocado
Olly's Olives, Taster Pack, 50g (Pack of 6)
Airline snacks can cost a bomb, and captive passengers often have no choice but to fork out - you can’t exactly nip to a corner shop at 35,000 feet, can you?
Take a pack or two of Olly’s though and you’ll have a healthy snack that you haven’t dipped into the holiday fund for. Also great for long car and rail journeys, these travel-friendly packs of Halkidiki olives come in three delicious flavours: chilli & rosemary, garlic & basil and lemon & thyme. Chuck some in your bag and congratulate yourself when hunger strikes.
Buy now £9.99, Amazon
Biona Organic Bella di Cerignola Olives in Brine 280g
Handpicked in Cerignola, close to Bari in Italy, Biona’s whole green olives are suspended in brine, heightening their salty flavour. The organic olives come with stones still in, so beware if you’re planning to sling them into a sauce, salad or pizza. The milder flavour of this olive makes it suitable for dirtying up a martini too.
Buy now £13.29, Amazon
Mr Filbert's Green Olives: Lemon & Oregano 12 x 50g
With no oil (minimising chances of an unfortunate spillage) and zero stones to swerve, this picnic pack of olives are perfect for eating on the go. Each pack contains just 54 calories, so if you’ve always been a bit iffy with portion control, this will do the measuring for you. No oil doesn’t mean no flavour though: the fruit has been marinated in lemon and oregano for a true hit of Mediterranean flavour.
Buy now £30.27, Amazon
Oloves Basil & Garlic Marinated Pitted Green Olives 30g
Trying to get kids to try new foods can be a challenge, but with its mild flavour and smaller volume, Oloves is primed to get little ones hooked. This pack is flavoured with basil and garlic, helping to elevate their tastebuds. Perfect for lunchboxes and day trips.
Buy now £7.12, Amazon
Sainsbury's Pimento Stuffed Olives with Manchego & Chilli 160g
Bring the flavours of the Iberian peninsula to your next cocktail hour with Sainsbury’s. The supermarket has stuffed green olives with pimento paste and mixed them alongside cubes of hard Manchego cheese before drizzling with olive oil, parsley and chilli.
Buy now £3.00, Sainsbury's
