F.A.Q.
Q. How many types of olives are there in Italy?
R. In our country today 538 olive varieties can be identified, about 42% of the world heritage even if Italian olive growing is mainly based on about 50 varieties. There are as many minor varieties still not well identified due to the continuous changes in the morphological characteristics of the genetic heritage.
Q. What is the difference between green and black olives?
R. The difference lies in the stage of ripeness. Olives are green when harvested during the ripening cycle, they are black when harvested when fully ripe.
Q. Is it possible to eat olives just picked from the tree?
R. No. Olives are too bitter to be consumed as soon as they are picked from the tree and must therefore be “processed” to reduce their bitterness.
D. What are the nutritional properties of olives?
R. Olives contain antioxidants, are among the major sources of unsaturated and monounsaturated fats, fibers, proteins, calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium and sodium.
Q. Why are olives good for the body?
R. Thanks to their nutritional properties, olives provide cardiovascular benefits, play an important role in protecting from the harmful action of free radicals, have anti-inflammatory properties, contribute to the well-being of the skin, bones and digestive system.
D. In what daily quantities are olives good for our body?
R. We recommend combining 7-8 green or black olives with 2 teaspoons of oil.
D. How can olives be consumed?
R. Olives can be eaten fresh or cooked. At the beginning of the meal as an aperitif or appetizer, as a side dish, to enrich and season vegetable dishes, first or second courses.
D. Can olives be cooked?
R. Yes, olives are also suitable for cooking. Check out our recipes to find out how to cook.
Q. Where do Madama Oliva olives come from?
R. Madama Oliva olives are mainly Italian, but we also produce the best Greek cultivars.
Q. Where can you buy Madama Oliva olives?
R. Throughout Italy, in the fruit and vegetable and gastronomy departments of the main distribution chains: Carrefour, Conad, Coop, Auchan, Pam, Panorama, Aspiag-Despar, Gros, Bennet, Il Gigante, Elite, Unicomm, Alì and online at www .tuttostore.it.
Q. Why are Madama Oliva olives of the highest quality?
R. Because Madama Oliva buys the first choice of the raw material on the market. The products are subjected to both checks made by qualified personnel of the internal laboratory and entrusting analyzes to third party laboratories. In addition to monitoring and checking the raw material and all stages of the production process, the internal laboratory also carries out chemical, physical and microbiological checks on packaged products.
Q. What is the difference between the olives found in the canned goods department (milk, glass jars, sachets) and those found in fruit and vegetables / gastronomy?
R. The latter (such as Madama Oliva olives) are not subjected to conservation treatments that alter the organoleptic characteristics of the product, thus maintaining the colors, smells and flavors of the freshly picked fruits and a lower level of salinity than the others. The various cultivars of Madama Oliva olives are in fact characterized by distinct and qualifying flavors.
D. Do the olives have an expiration date?
R. Yes, they must be consumed by the date indicated on each package.
Q. What does “preservation in brine” mean?
R. Brine is a preservation method suitable for more robust vegetables such as olives. It is a solution of water and salt that has a salinity greater than 5%.
D. Produced in a controlled atmosphere what does it mean?
R. Controlled atmosphere is a preservation technique that aims to avoid oxygen contact with food, thus inhibiting microbial development and extending the storage time.
Q. What is the difference between “consume preferably by” or “consume by” on expiry?
R. “To be consumed preferably by” means that if the product is stored in a suitable way it will keep the active ingredients by the indicated date. Subsequently, it may lose its organoleptic, nutritional and organic characteristics without however causing health problems. The expiry date “to be consumed by” is instead the limit within which the product must be consumed after which it will no longer be good and could even cause health problems.
D. When does the olive harvest take place?
R. Early autumn (September / October) for green olives, March for black olives.
D. How does the olive harvest take place?
R. There are various methods for harvesting olives:
– the stripping a