Nice olives?

[torqueofthedevil]

I have just started getting into olives, and I had some in an Italian restaurant last week that were amazing. De-seeded and bursting with juiciness and flavour. I have just bought some from the supermarket from the deli and they were hideous! I couldn't eat them, really strong flavour, incredibly salty (like getting a mouth full of sea water) and just inedible! They had not been de-seeded which I don't know if that makes much difference.

They were called Italian olives.

Can anyone suggest somewhere I cod get some nice olives!?!?

[Shaw Tarse]

Have a look at http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=pistonheads+olive...
I'd also ask at the deli to sample before buying.
Near me we have "farmer's markets" where they sell olives, again you can try before you buy.

[AlexJ12]

Try Kalamata olives, best I've ever tasted..

[Catz]

Online place I use.

http://www.olivesetal.co.uk/view/products/olivesan...

[dazco]

Try olives with different stuffings. Anchovies, garlic, lemon are all lovely, and \I do not like anchovies.

I assume you mean green olives, black ones are awful.

[Mastodon2]

Black olives are usually pretty salty, green olives are much more palatable I find. Usually, olives from jars are pretty awful unless they are stuffed with something. They turn rubbery and vile. Usually I find supermarket deli ones to be ok, the best ones are from good delis in higher end shops. Some guys had a Mediterranean food stall in a shopping centre near where I live, their olives were by fat the best I've ever tasted, they were fresh, juicey and loaded with flavour, it's a shame they only have their stall up around Christmas.

Which reminds me, they are probably going to be back soon

[soad]

dazco said:

Try olives with different stuffings. Anchovies, garlic, lemon are all lovely, and \I do not like anchovies.

Can also buy ones with jalapeno stuffing?

[LooneyTunes]

Catz said:

Online place I use.

http://www.olivesetal.co.uk/view/products/olivesan...

Used to buy regularly from these guys and really liked the product.

The company may have matured somewhat, but their handling of a product-related complaint left more than a little to be desired (or my experience may not have been representative).... hence the "used to buy".

Would be interested in any other sources though as good olives are a rare treat. (jars from Harvey Nicks aren't bad though)

[sidekickdmr]

Saindsburys Queen olives in chilli from the deli counter!

Nom

[JxT]

Gordal olives.

[Pints]

soad said:

dazco said:

Try olives with different stuffings. Anchovies, garlic, lemon are all lovely, and \I do not like anchovies.

Can also buy ones with jalapeno stuffing?

Yes, you can.

That's certainly my olive-stuffing of choice.

[Pete Franklin]

Mastodon2 said:

Black olives are usually pretty salty, green olives are much more palatable I find. Usually, olives from jars are pretty awful unless they are stuffed with something. They turn rubbery and vile. Usually I find supermarket deli ones to be ok, the best ones are from good delis in higher end shops. Some guys had a Mediterranean food stall in a shopping centre near where I live, their olives were by fat the best I've ever tasted, they were fresh, juicey and loaded with flavour, it's a shame they only have their stall up around Christmas.

Which reminds me, they are probably going to be back soon

if you buy olives from jars that have been preserved in oil as opposed to brine then they are normally pretty good. almost all olives are brined at some point or fermented and then brined because they start off very bitter, so there will be some degree of saltiness its just some are brined longer than others

[Mobile Chicane]

Waitrose own-brand olives (in the pre-packed deli section) are pretty good.

I like the large green olives stuffed with a whole chilli, only I can't eat too many since they give me the sts.