TRIPLE Italian Delight With The Best Black Olives Available Online

Searching for a can of the best black olives can be a serious challenge. And when you are in a rush to set the table or just crave a new delicious snack, you expect it to be delicious.

In this article, one can learn about all the nuances of choosing dark olives, kalamata olives, and even Castellano olives, as well as what meals to put them in.     

Upon reading the material, shopping for the best canned black olives will hopefully become easier.

Black olives in white bowl

What are Black Olives?

Black olives have a bit of a different journey than green ones. Only then are they suitable for harvest. 

Some people may also confuse black and green olives as different in taste. There are a few nuances, but the color of the olive is almost always about its appearance rather than taste. Any olive tree can produce green and black olives.  

Our Favorite Black Olive Brand

We tested several types of black olive brands to find the best dark olives. After all, olives are something only some enjoy or are ready to give a chance to. 

So, rather than forcing someone to try black olives from an ordinary brand, we wanted to ensure these are the best black olives you can treat your family or friends. 

Finding a delicious can of black olives can be more difficult than it seems. After all, dark olives are an ingredient one can find in many recipes, and if that can of olives is outwardly bad, it can destroy the whole meal.  

There are a lot of condiment brands that focus on black olives. Some of the most popular are Pearls, Early California, Mario Camacho, Marmara Black Olives, and Marmarabirlik. 

After a long time of researching, our best pick is Eden Organic Black Beans.

The brand pays a lot of attention to the quality and country of origin of its olives. The fruits come from the U.S. and are popular in both the Americas and the Caribbean. Interestingly, lovers of Mexican cuisine often use black beans instead of pinto beans, and Eden Organic Black Beans are one of the primary choices. 

The fruits have a small core, a thin peel, and rich, juicy flesh. They are not too big or too small but middle-sized, perfect for enjoying them to the fullest.  

Black olives have a rich nutritional and mineral value. Some of the vitamins in these fruits include B1, B2, B6, and E. Furthermore, these olives contain calcium, magnesium, folic acid, iron, and zinc. 

Finally, they are perfect for a fitness diet, as they are rich in healthy fats and protein. There is no added salt in Eden, and the company’s phthalate-free policy forbids the use of BPA and BPS materials since 1999. 

Dark olives are an excellent addition to numerous meals. Some meals include pasta salads, pizza toppings, dippings, and even sauces like salsa. 

Popular recipes today are black olives spreads, olive chicken salad, cauliflower with water chestnuts and black olives, or fried gorgonzola olives.

As it seems, there is a whole myriad of things to do with black olives, so even those who don’t like them will have to give them a second chance. 

To ensure the meals taste truly delicious, one must add the best canned black olives. Eden Organic Black Olives are thus perfect for it. 

To buy these delightful olives, one does not have to look further than Amazon. One can buy them in packs of twelve, which is enough for several breakfast, lunch, or dinner courses. 

The price for two cans is around $50, which is affordable for a household of olive fans and those who experiment. 

An Overview of Our Top Picks

  1. Eden Organic Black Beans (Best for people on a diet or allergic to gluten)
  2. EARLY CALIFORNIA, Ripe Pitted, Large Black Olives (Best for kosher meals)
  3. PEARLS, Ripe Pitted, Large Black Olives (Best for stuffing)
  4. 365 by Whole Foods Market, Olives Black Ripe Pitted Medium (Best for toppings and sauces)
  5. Roland Foods Pitted Baby Kalamata Olives from Greece (Best for spreads, tapenades, or pasta)
  6. Roland Foods Greek Country Olive Mix (Best for spicy meals)
  7. Sicilian Village Marinated Olives (Best for snacking, especially for people with gluten intolerance)
  8. Trader Joe’s Marinated Olive Duo with Lemon and Herbs (Best for appetizers)
  9. Krinos Oil Cured Olives, Italian Style (Best for kosher meals)
PEARLS, Ripe Pitted, Large Black Olives, 6 oz, Pack of 6
Sicilian Village Marinated Olives, Green/Black, 1.7 Oz (Pack of 10)
Roland Foods Greek Country Olive Mix, Whole Pitted Olives Marinated with Garlic and Pepperoncini Peppers, Specialty Imported Food, 5 pound (pack of 1) (71760)
Product name
PEARLS, Ripe Pitted, Large Black Olives, 6 oz, Pack of 6
Sicilian Village Marinated Olives, Green/Black, 1.7 Oz (Pack of 10)
Roland Foods Greek Country Olive Mix, Whole Pitted Olives Marinated with Garlic and Pepperoncini Peppers, Specialty Imported Food, 5 pound (pack of 1) (71760)
Price
$13.37
$31.63
$33.99
PEARLS, Ripe Pitted, Large Black Olives, 6 oz, Pack of 6
Product name
PEARLS, Ripe Pitted, Large Black Olives, 6 oz, Pack of 6
Price
$13.37
Buy Now
Sicilian Village Marinated Olives, Green/Black, 1.7 Oz (Pack of 10)
Product name
Sicilian Village Marinated Olives, Green/Black, 1.7 Oz (Pack of 10)
Price
$31.63
Buy Now
Roland Foods Greek Country Olive Mix, Whole Pitted Olives Marinated with Garlic and Pepperoncini Peppers, Specialty Imported Food, 5 pound (pack of 1) (71760)
Product name
Roland Foods Greek Country Olive Mix, Whole Pitted Olives Marinated with Garlic and Pepperoncini Peppers, Specialty Imported Food, 5 pound (pack of 1) (71760)
Price
$33.99
Buy Now

Reviewing the Best Black Olives on the Market

Eden Organic Black Beans (Best for People on Diet or Allergic to Gluten)

Eden Foods is a strictly organic food company that has been working since 1968. The main aspect the company focuses on is non-GMO production from professional farmers and handlers. Another company’s principle is making a reliable alternative to the commercial food market.   

Eden dark olives come from local farms, which greatly support smaller growers. As a result of principled attention to producers, olives are very low sodium, low fat, vegan, and kosher.  

Recommended uses: Soups, salads, and garnish

Package information: Can

Volume: 15 oz (425 g) cans

Unit count: 1

Pitted: No

Item form: Whole

Specialty: Organic

Allergen information: Gluten-free, BPA-free, vegan 

Flavor/s: Regular olive flavor

EARLY CALIFORNIA, Ripe Pitted, Large Black Olives (Best for Kosher Meals)

The brand is one of the most favorite among Americans. As one may guess, the brand’s olives grow.

Recommended uses: Snacks, stuffed meals 

Package information: Can

Volume: 6 oz (170 g) cans

Unit count:

Item form: Whole

Pitted: Yes

Specialty: Organic

Allergen information: Gluten-free, cholesterol-free  

Flavor/s: buttery 

PEARLS, Ripe Pitted, Large Black Olives (Best for Stuffing)

Amazon’s Choice in Black Condiment Olives by PEARLS

The brand focuses on organic growth to support local manufacturers. The California curing process is the core of olive production in this company. The brand’s fruits are not bitter but have a smooth and luscious flavor.

The brand uses sea salt instead of an iodized one to ensure its famous taste. The numerous exciting reviews prove the technique superior to others, which is why PEARLS is one of the most successful brands in its field.   

Recommended uses: Salads, pasta, toppings

Package information: Can

Volume: 6 oz (170 g) cans

Unit count: 6

Pitted: Yes

Item form: Whole

Specialty: Organic

Allergen information: Gluten-free

Flavor/s: Savory

365 by Whole Foods Market, Olives Black Ripe Pitted Medium (Best for Toppings and Sauces)

The 365 brand is another famous company that uses California-grown olives. The fruits go through a classic ripening process for a whole week, which turns them an intense shade of purple and black. Then manufacturers gently hand-pick ripe olives that can later become parts of delicious meals. 

Recommended uses: Sauces, toppings, salads

Volume: 6 oz (170 g)

Unit count: 1

Package information: Can

Pitted: Yes

Item form: Whole

Specialty: Organic

Allergen information: Includes gluten

Flavor/s: Nutty, savory flavor

Roland Foods Pitted Baby Kalamata Olives from Greece (Best for Spreads, Tapenades, or Pasta)

The Roland brand has been producing whole, halved, and wedge olives since 1934. The company combines professional chefs, logistic teams, and food enthusiasts to ensure not only traditions but also innovations in the manufacturing process. 

The brand holds leadership positions when in experimentation, as its dark Kalamata olives are among the best on the market. 

Recommended uses: Warm and cold dishes (salads, pasta, charcuterie, tapenade), drinks

Package information: Barrel

Volume: 4.4 lb (2 kg)

Unit count: 1

Pitted: Yes 

Item form: Whole

Specialty: Organic, natural antioxidant

Allergen information: Includes gluten

Flavor/s: Smoky, salty, and fruity

Roland Foods Greek Country Olive Mix (Best for Spicy Meals)

As we mentioned, Roland is one of the leaders in the global olive market. The brand’s olives come directly from Greece and are ingredients of gourmet meals in restaurants. 

As for this olive mix, the package includes whole pitted Kalamata fruits with intense flavors.  

Recommended uses:  Warm and cold dishes (salads, pasta, charcuterie, tapenade), drinks

Package information: Vacuum package bag

Volume: 6 lbs. (2.27 kg)

Unit count: 1

Pitted: Yes

Item form: Whole

Specialty: Organic, natural antioxidant

Allergen information: Includes gluten

Flavor/s: Strong and spicy

Sicilian Village Marinated Olives (Best for Snacking, Especially for People with Gluten Intolerance)

Sicilian Village is a family-owned brand, which means a manual approach to growing, picking, and curing olives. The family chose to cure olives in salt and later marinade them according to a family recipe. The latter has been a major secret in the family for generations.

Sicilian Village Marinated Olives are perfect for regular use. Among other brands, Sicilian Village has a convenient zip seal to close and open the package after use. 

Recommended uses: Snacks, sandwiches, wraps

Package information: Zip-locked package

Volume: 1.7 oz (48 g)

Unit count: 10

Pitted: Yes

Item form: Whole

Specialty: Organic

Allergen information: No gluten and chemical compounds

Flavor/s: Salty

Trader Joe’s Marinated Olive Duo with Lemon and Herbs (Best for Appetizers)

Trader Joe’s is a nationally known chain of local grocery stores, active since 1967. The company also has a unique strategy of selling non-trending but necessary items. 

The brand involves exceptional products from other countries that customers cannot usually find in other stores. Trader Joe’s has a great variety of products, including dark olives.

That said, marinated olives with lemon and herbs are some of the rare seasonings one can buy.

Recommended uses: Salads, snack

Package information: Vacuum package bag

Volume: 17.6 oz (around 500 g) per 2 packs

Unit count: 2

Pitted: No

Item form: Whole

Specialty: Organic

Allergen information: Gluten-free

Flavor/s: Lemon and herbs

Krinos Oil Cured Olives, Italian Style (Best for Kosher Meals)

Krinos Foods is one of the largest importers, producers, and distributors of specialty products from numerous countries like Greece, Turkey, and the North American region. 

The company imports and produces more than 1,000 dry or frozen foods, with olives being one of the most popular products. All the food items go through SQF-certified facilities with advanced automated processing. 

On the other hand, the company tries to preserve production authenticity as much as possible. 

Recommended uses: Salads, dressing, pasta, snack

Package information: Jar

Volume: 10 oz (263 g)

Unit count: 1

Pitted: No

Item form: Whole

Specialty: Organic

Allergen information: Includes gluten

Flavor/s: Salty

Black Olives vs. Kalamata Olives – The Difference

Olives are very complicated food, as nothing else seems to tear people apart than arguments for and against olives. Some people hate them, and some cannot imagine their life without a couple of dark olives on their pizza.  

Either way, there is more to olives than one may think. Perhaps, the reason why someone did not like black olives is that they ate kalamata or the other way around. It may seem dark olives are all the same, but in reality, there are quite a few differences. 

Kalamata olives and black olives are two of the most popular types of this fruit. But when ordering a meal at a restaurant or even having olives as a snack, one can easily confuse them. While black and kalamata olives look very similar, they are definitely different. 

The root of the confusion is the false idea that black olives are a certain type of olive when, in reality, they are a family of olives. On top of that, kalamata olives also have a dark color, which makes the distinction even less clear. 

The major differences between kalamata and black olives include taste, size, texture, and stone. They even originate from slightly different places.  

Origin

We shall start with black olives. They can grow anywhere on the planet with a suitable climate and proper care. Usually, people associate olives with Greece, and they will be right. Black olives definitely grow under the peasant Greek sun. However, they are adaptable.

And what is a kalamata olive? This olive grows exclusively in the specific region that gave these olives their name, 一 Kalamata. This is the area in the regional unit of Messinia in the southwestern part of Greece. 

At the same time, not every olive that grows in that area is “Kalamata.” They are so special they have PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) status as protection.

Appearance

Looking at the olive, even the untrained eye may notice differences, but only some know their meaning. The average olives have a medium size, resulting in careful selection for every package. 

Kalamata olives, however, are larger. In fact, they are larger than black olives, almost twice their size. In addition, they have slightly different shapes. 

When looking at a Kalamata olive, one should notice they are thinner and longer. They also have a sharper end, hinting at their origin.

As for the color, Kalamata olives are not perfectly black. Instead, they are more brown or purple. 

In comparison, black olives are smaller than Kalamata. Their size and shape are usually what people imagine when they think of olives. It is also clear now they have a darker and smoother color.  

Taste

Another critical determinant is taste. Clearly, Kalamata and black olives will produce distinctively different flavors.

Black olives have a much stronger flavor compared to Kalamata. Many describe it as pungent and sharp. Often, they can be salty, which only unpacks the sack of flavors in these tiny fruits.

On the other hand, Kalamata olives taste more subtle and creamy. In fact, some connoisseurs describe it as fruity and sweet. Still, they preserve the piquancy that is inherent to all olives. 

Texture 

Finally, texture plays no less of a role in determining the type of olives than taste or appearance. When it comes to black olives, they share more similarities with green ones. 

Both types have a tough and slightly crunchy texture. Some people find it unpleasant or outwardly inedible. After all, black olives can feel a bit rubbery on the tongue. The skin of black olives is also rigid and hard to chew.

On the other hand, the texture of Kalamata olives is very soft compared to any other type of olives, not just black. It is not uncommon for their flesh to almost fall off the stones. 

The flesh of olives is chewy and easy to consume. It would not be an exaggeration to say Kalamata olives literally melt in the mouth. 

Black olives in bowl

How We Tested Our Picks

Olives have constituted an essential part of the human diet since ancient times. A variety of fruits made it easy to include them in daily consumption. Today, the canning industry has made olives less romantic and more practical. 

Most people have a basic knowledge of olives. There are undoubtedly black and green olives, pitted or not, bigger and smaller. But unless one is a connoisseur, it seems like all there is to know about olives is here. 

However, olives are unexpectedly versatile and diverse. As we mentioned, olives (including black ones) are excellent ingredients for salads, stews, salads, or spreads. Their salty, sweet, bitter, or sour flavors provide an exceptional taste to meals.   

But, a real gourmet will tell there are certainly more requirements one has to look for when assessing olives. These requirements include the area of harvest, color, curing agent, and stone. 

It may seem like green, and black olives come from different trees, but this is not true. Green olives are unripe fruits that growers pick up early and then process through curing agents. Black olives usually go through the same procedure, but when they are riper. 

However, not all black olives are ripe to completion on the tree. For example, the Gemlik olives stay on the branch till full ripeness, impacting the taste. As for the black olives that do not get ripe on the tree, manufacturers use safe and legal paint to achieve the proper dark color. 

So, one of the important aspects we paid attention to was the intensity and smoothness of color and the way of ripening. 

Another aspect we focused on was the area of growth. There are several worldwide known areas where olives grow. Mission olives are the ones growing in America, specifically in California. Niçoise olives come from warm regions of France, and Castelvetrano, also known as Castellano olives, are premium Sicilian olives. 

There are more types of olives, and the point of knowing the origin is being able to differentiate the taste of one olive from another.  

Curing agents also play an important role in the taste and quality of olives. Fresh olives are not a good thing to eat, as they taste extremely bitter. This is why all manufacturers use curing to smoothen the bitterness and add other unique flavors. Curing techniques differ across cultures and countries all around the world. 

Olive curing is similar to fermentation as the fruit’s natural sugar slowly converts into lactic acid. In other words, the olives lose oleuropein 一, the compound responsible for the intensely bitter taste 一, and acquire the unique flavor typical for them. 

The most common curing agents are oil or brine. Olives can soak in oil for long periods to dilute the bitterness. Lye, salt, and even air are also popular. Water is the slowest curing method, with the seasoned brine following. 

When looking through the selection of picks, we did not ignore any curing agent. Instead, we focused on more classic flavors that could appeal to a wider population.  

The best strategy when buying a can of olives at the “olive bar” of the store is choosing those still in brine. Olives should regularly move to stay fresh and firm. In other words, they need a bit of space. 

Finally, the last aspect to consider is whether or not olives have a stone. Pitted olives are very convenient when cooking soups, stews, or salads, but unpitted ones always keep the most flavor. 

Pitted olives taste saltier than those with a stone, as they keep more brine in the empty middle. Furthermore, unpitted olives keep the shape better and don’t let the flesh go mushy. We tried to follow these peculiarities when checking all the picks in the list.  

FAQs on Black Olives

Where Do Black Olives Come From?

Usually, black olives get ripe on the trees, similar to green olives. In fact, they grow together and are simply the same olives in different stages of ripeness. 

Olives turn purple as a result of anthocyanin accumulation. Anthocyanin is the pigment that turns olives that deep purple color. 

Ironically, despite having a “ripe” label, black olives are not. The truth is, they are an American invention. Specifically, it is a Californian invention. 

A German descendant, Freda Ehmann, developed the recipe for artificially ripening olives in the mid-1890s. With the history of experiments, some successful, some tragic, the ripe California olive became a regular item on the dinner table.  

There, manufacturers cure green olives in an alkaline solution. Then, they treat olives with oxygen and ferrous gluconate 一, a special iron compound 一, to make their skin shiny and black. 

The natural black olives are native to the countries of Central and northern South America, the Caribbean region, and Mexico. The Mediterranean region is the main association when hearing “olives.” 

To ensure a natural turn to black, growers harvest ripened olives and let them undergo curing. It takes longer, but both accelerated and naturally black olives taste delicious. 

black olives

One Last Thing to Remember

Olives must be some of the most argued fruits in modern gastronomic history. People either love or hate them, and discussions on their taste can tear up families. But the variety of olives in the market makes it almost sinful not to give them a second chance. 

Black olives are usually more pleasant to the palette of people who are not used to eating them. But finding the best black olives, especially online, can be difficult. 

Pitted or not, spicy or herby, black olives vs. kalamata olives 一, one may need help to choose the ones they like. 

This article can help you find a favorite can of dark olives and make your next meal more delicious.