18 interesting facts about olives

We have compiled 18 interesting facts about olives, which are at the top of the list of nutritious and tasty foods.

1. Commonly known as a vegetable, the olive is actually a fruit.
2. According to research and fossil finds, the history of the olive tree goes back 20-40 million years.
3. The olive was first harvested 7000 years ago in the Mediterranean region.
4. Olive trees are between 66 and 125 cm high.
5. Olive trees flower 4 years after planting and bring their first harvest 15 years later.
6. The leaves of the olive trees never fall and are always green.
7. The average lifespan of an olive tree is between 300 and 600 years.
8. Today more than 800 million olive trees are planted worldwide.
9. One of the oldest olive trees in the world is on the island of Crete. This 4000 year old tree is still bearing fruit!
10. In the northern hemisphere, green olive harvesting begins in late September and lasts until mid-November. Black olives are harvested from mid-November to late January.
11. Olives are not a fruit that can be eaten immediately after being picked from the branch; the harvested olives have to go through a pickling process.
12. 2,25 million liters of olive oil are consumed worldwide every year.
13. On average, 1 liter of olive oil is obtained from 7 boxes of olives.
14. Of the olives harvested, 90% are used for olive oil production and 10% as table olives.
15. The olive branch is a symbol of peace or success.
16. In ancient Greece, the olive oil burned in the sacred lamps of temples was known as the “eternal fire” of the Olympic Games. The winners of these games were crowned with olive leaves.
17. The olive is rich in minerals and vitamins A, E, K and B.
18. Because they contain oleic acid, which makes skin softer and healthier, eating olives reduces wrinkles by 20%. The olive, which also contains vitamin E, is an excellent antioxidant for skin health.