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What to eat in Greece? Top 22 Greek Olives

Last update: Sun Mar 23 2025
Top 22 Greek Olives
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Best Greek Olives Types

01

Olives

KALAMATA, Greece
4.5
Eliá Kalamatas
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Called either Kalamata, after the city and region on the southwestern side of the Peloponnese where they are traditionally grown, or Kalamon, after the variety of olive tree, these olives are an organic product of exceptional quality that stands out for its authentic taste and intense aroma.


They are never harvested green, and to avoid bruising, they must be hand-picked. These tight-skinned, meaty olives are particularly large in size, almond-shaped, and dark aubergine in color. Their exquisitely rich, fruity flavor is the result of adding either red wine or red wine vinegar to the brine during the curing process. 
THE BEST Eliá Kalamatas Olives
1 Olvion Kalamata Olives- Gold Line
Agrovim
Olvion Kalamata Olives- Gold Line

4.8

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2 Iliada Kalamata PDO
Agrovim
Iliada Kalamata PDO

4.8

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3 Erato Kalamata Pitted Olives
Agrovim
Erato Kalamata Pitted Olives

4.8

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4 Olive Art Kalamata
Agrovim
Olive Art Kalamata

4.8

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02
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Produced exclusively from the Hondrolia Chalkidikis and Chalkidiki varieties of olive tree, Halkidiki olives are grown, processed, and packaged in the Prefecture of Chalkidiki. The largest variety of Greek olive, they are often called 'donkey olives'.


Characterized by a robust and bright green glossy skin, rich, firm flesh and a subtle fruity aroma with a somewhat bitter, spicy flavor, they are praised in Greece and beyond as one of the best table olives on the market. Four different types of these olives are available: whole olives, pitted olives, crushed olives, and pitted olives stuffed with almonds or small pieces of red pepper, carrot, pickle, blue cheese, or garlic. 
03
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The island of Thassos has been known for its olives since ancient times. The famous Thassitiki olive of the Throumba variety was even named after this island. These olives are harvested from early November through mid-January, when they become fully ripe or even overripe and develop their distinct black color.


Due to the presence of the Phoma oleae fungus, Throumba olives lose their bitterness while ripening and can be eaten straight from the tree. The olives are primarily picked by hand in order to avoid any bruising of the fruit. After picking, they are washed in mountain spring water, graded by size, and cured in coarse salt. 
04
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This table olive is obtained from olive trees of the Konservolia Amfissis variety grown in the municipalities of Amfissa, Itea, Delfi, Chrisso, Sernikaki, Aghios Konstantinos, Aghios Georgios, Eleonas, Drossochori, Prossilio, and Kirra in Phocis prefecture.


Even though conditions in this mountainous region are not ideal for cultivating olives because of its cool winters, the Konservolia variety has adapted well. The olives are usually harvested when fully ripe and gathered by hand using small wooden sticks. 
05
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This table olive is obtained from olive trees of the Konservolia variety grown in the municipal areas of Peta, Komboti, Grammenitsa, Vlama, Sykies, Sellades, Makryniada, and Kommeno in the Epirus region. The weather and soil conditions in these areas are not ideal for olive cultivation, but this variety has adapted well to wet soils and cold winters.


The olives are harvested manually and transferred to a processing plant, where they must pass a quality control check. The best olives are placed in containers with brine to ferment. The fermentation process lasts from 20 to 60 days for green olives and four to five months for yellow and black olives. 
06

Olives

VOLOS MUNICIPALITY, Greece
3.3
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This table olive grows on olive trees of the Konservolia variety in the province of Volos in the Thessaly region. This region has a Mediterranean climate with dry summers and mild winters that are suitable for the cultivation of olive trees. The olives are harvested by hand, either while they are still green or when they are fully ripe and purple-black to black in color.


They are transferred to a processing plant where they are treated with caustic soda if they are ripe or a salt solution while still green, and then pickled. The flavor of these olives can be described as fruity and pleasantly sweet. The best way to serve Konservolia Piliou Volou is alongside delicious cheeses or sliced over salads.

07
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These olives are cultivated in the province of Amario in Rethymnon prefecture on the island of Crete. The Mediterranean climate and fertile soil on the island provide excellent conditions for olive growing. These Throuba olives fall on the ground when fully ripe, and they are collected using olive nets.


They are characteristically black in color and have a meaty texture. They are not bitter because these olive trees are infested with the Phoma oleae fungus, which causes the olives to lose their bitterness as they ripen on the tree. Besides selecting the best olives, no further human processing is required. 
08
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This table olive is obtained from olive trees of the Konservolia variety grown within the Rovies municipality in central Greece. The weather conditions and soil in this area are perfect for olive cultivation. Traditionally, these olives are harvested by hand and transported to a processing plant.


In order to make them less bitter, they are doused in a solution of caustic soda for twelve hours. Afterwards, they are placed in a brine with added lactobacillus bacteria to ferment. The pleasantly sweet flavor and fruity aroma of these olives have made them quite popular, and they can be found served on appetizer platters with cheeses or sliced over salads and pasta.

09
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Lianolia Kerkyras is the primary olive variety cultivated on the Greek island of Corfu, and the olive trees on the island, many of which are several hundreds of years old, are a testament to the long-standing tradition of cultivation. Both Lianolia trees and fruits are typically small to medium in size, and the olives themselves are elongated in shape, with high oil content.


That's why they are predominantly used for oil production rather than served as table olives. The oil obtained from Lianolia Kerkyras is noted for its unique, fruity taste and aromatic character.

10
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Koroneiki is a variety of olive primarily grown in Greece, renowned for its high-quality olive oil. The olive oil produced from Koroneiki olives is known for its fruity, aromatic, and robust flavor profile, often characterized by a slightly bitter and peppery finish.


The olives themselves are small in size, typically green when unripe and turning dark purple as they mature. Koroneiki trees are small and bushy, well-suited to dry, rocky soil, and can tolerate high temperatures, making them hardy and productive.


These trees are usually harvested when the olives are still green to maximize the quality and flavor of the oil. 
11
12
Olives
CRETE, Greece
n/a
13
Olives
LESBOS, Greece  and  one more region
n/a
14
15
16
17
Olives
WESTERN GREECE, Greece
n/a
18
Olives
PELOPONNESE, Greece
n/a
19
Olives
LESBOS, Greece
n/a
20
21
22
Olives
ZAKYNTHOS, Greece
n/a
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Greek Olives