Olives! Trivia Quiz

Answer: For six thousand years

Olives trees were cultivated by human beings before the advent of written language. Olives were grown in Crete in 3000 B.C.E., and found in Egyptian tombs dating from 2,000 B.C.E. Of course, one of the earliest mentions of olives is from the Biblical story of Noah. Noah sent the dove to determine if the Flood had ended, and the dove returned with the branch of an olive tree.

In addition to being an indication of how long olives have been known, the story of Noah is also the source of the olive branch as a symbol of peace. (Some information for the question came from a web site called "The Olive Source".)

Answer: Up to two thousand years

Some of the oldest olive trees in the world can be found, appropriately, on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, Israel. These trees are reputed to be two thousand years old. A botanist from Bar Ilan University in Israel describes a three thousand year old olive tree near Beer Sheva, but declines to give the exact location of the tree due to fear of what a curious public will do to it. According to the Wikipedia article on olives, a tree on the Greek island of Crete has been proved to be two thousand years old by tree ring analysis.

Answer: Spain

Olive trees originated in Asia Minor, and spread to the Mediterranean, where the climate is ideal for them. Olive trees can be found in almost all of the Mediterranean countries, but Spain is the largest producer of olives. Italy is also a very important olive producer. Olives have been introduced to several countries outside the Mediterranean; among them are Australia and the U.S. state of California.

Answer: Green olives are picked early; black olives ripen fully on the tree.

Green olives are picked before they fully ripen on the tree. Since they are quite bitter, they cannot be eaten raw, but must be pickled. In some parts of the world olives are treated with lye in order to remove the bitterness, while in other areas they are pickled in brine. Various ingredients, such as hot peppers or lemon, can be added to the brine in order to create a special flavor.

In the Mediterranean area, black olives are picked after they have fully ripened on the tree and the method used for pickling them is quite different from green olives.

In the Mediterranean, the olive harvest starts in the late fall and can continue until March.

Answer: 90%

A full ninety percent of olives go into the production of olive oil. Like fine wines, olive oils differ from area to area, depending on growing conditions and processing techniques. Olive oil connoisseurs enjoy comparing the tastes of various oils just as wine connoisseurs compare wines.

The finest olive oil is called "extra virgin" - it is the least acetic of all the types of oil. Olive oil is low in cholesterol and is a recommended part of the Mediterranean diet.

Answer: A martini

A classic martini is made of 1 oz. gin, 1/4 oz. dry vermouth, and ice. Traditionally, it is garnished with a small, pimento-stuffed olive. Today, you can find gourmet olives stuffed with almonds, garlic, or even blue cheese. While in the United States and northern Europe olives may be used primarily as a drink garnish or to decorate platters, in the Mediterranean they are an important part of almost every meal.

Answer: True

There are many delicious dishes that include olives. When cooking with olives, be sure to used pitted ones! Here is a recipe for a pumpkin stifado that includes olives, that comes from a cookbook called "Islands of the Mediterranean".
Ingredients: 1 lb. fresh pumpkin, peeled and cut in cubes, 2 Tsp. flour, 1/4 cup olive oil, 1 lb. shallots, 1/4 cup wine vinegar and 1/4 cup red wine, 1 cup pitted black olives, 1/4 cup tomato paste. Spices: pinch salt, sprig rosemary, pinch cumin.
Methods: coat pumpkin cubes in flour, brown for ten minutes in olive oil and remove from pan. Add remaining olive oil, saute shallots, then add vinegar, wine and tomato paste. Add herbs and simmer for five minutes. Return pumpkin pieces to pan, and then add olives. Simmer for ten more minutes. Serve over rice or couscous.

Answer: The Central Grocery

While the other establishments mentioned might be more elegant, the humble Central Grocery makes a sandwich called a "mufelleta", which includes, amongst other ingredients, a famous olive salad. This sandwich was originally created to satisfy hungry Sicilian workers.

Here is a recipe for a similar olive salad. Combine in batches in a food processor: 1 1/2 cups black pitted black olives, 1 1/2 cups pitted green olives, 1 cup mixed picked vegetables, 1 Tsp. capers, 3 gloves garlic, 3 stalks celery, 1 Tsp. red peppers, 1 Tsp. fresh oregano and parsley, 1/4 cup pimentos, three green onions, 1 1/2 cup olive oil.

After mixing, place in glass jars for about a week in refrigerator before using.

Answer: All of these

Olive oil, which contains vitamins A and E, can be a healthy basis for cosmetics such as soap, moisturizers and shampoo. The liberal use of olive oil in their diet and cosmetics is often credited for giving Mediterranean women shiny, healthy hair.

Answer: Popeye

According to the Wikipedia, Elie Seger first created Olive Oyl for a cartoon called "Thimble Theatre". Popeye was added to the strip ten years later. Fleischer Studios, and later Famous Studio adapted the cartoon strip for animation, with actress Mae Questel providing the original voice for Olive.