Olives, scientifically known as Olea europaea, originate from Mediterranean regions, though they are grown in South America, South Africa, and many other parts of the world today.
Olives are perhaps an acquired taste, which is why commercial Olive production focuses on and centers around Olive species grown for turning into oil.
That is not to say that there isn’t a healthy market for raw (or canned) Olives, however.
But, let’s get straight to the question: are Olives considered a stone fruit?
Quick Answer: Yes Olives are considered a stone fruit. Because they are fleshy and have a large pit in their center, Olives are technically classified as stone fruit (rather than a vegetable as it is often mistaken for).
Are Olive Stones Freestone or Clingstone?
Olives have large but easy-to-remove stones in their centers. There are numerous tricks for removing Olive stones.
Our favorite way to deseed Olives is sitting them on the cutting board and giving them a nice little whack with the flat side of a kitchen knife. The force and pressure pop the Olive stone right on out of the flesh and skin of the fruit.
Similar Stone Fruits
- Cherry is a somewhat similar stone fruit to olives in shape and size, as well as containing a large hard stone in the center.
- Avacado is one of the most similar stone fruits to Olives, as far as consistency of the inner flesh is concerned, and being freestone.
- Plums are similar to Olive (as stone fruits), in that they are harvested and processed mainly to be turned into juice (whereas with Olives they are turned to oil).
Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!
