Spanish Word for Olive
The Spanish word "aceituna" means olive in English.
The olives of Spain are rated amongst the best in the world. Spain produces almost 30% of the world's olive oil and they are also responsible for almost half of the world's olive production. This is not surprising as some of the best varieties of olives are found in Spain with a considerable quantity coming from Andalusia.
Each variety of olive has its own unique but distinct flavor. A wide variety of olives are produced in Spain because of its diverse landscape and climate, which results in olives that range from sweet and mild, to peppery and bitter. There are eight main varieties of olive which are delicious for eating. There are of course many different types of olive, approximately 250 in total, but the most popular are:
- Manzanilla Olives
- Queen Olives
- Picual Olives
- Hojiblanca Olives
- Arbesquina Olives
- Verdial Olives
- Picolimon Olives
- Picudo Olives
Olives are generally harvested while they are still green and as a result they are not yet fully ripe. If they are eaten at this stage, they are very hard and bitter. Before olives are bottled they must be cured. This involves washing them and storing them in brine for a long period of time to remove the bitterness and soften them.
