# Mystery olives **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 7, 2011, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-olives/591815 "2011-08-07T12:11:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-olives/591815/1 "2011-08-07T12:11:37Z")
I had a Greek salad last night and as I usually do, I just kinda avoided the olives. I’ve never liked the taste or the texture. But about half the olives weren’t the normal shiny, patent-leather black olives I’m used to seeing in salads. These were sort of purple/brown, a little mushy looking and, when I tasted them, they were hyper-salty, olive-oily and wonderful…a little mushy maybe, but fantastic. I must have more of them. Any idea what kind they were? ---
**Author:** ![Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swords_to_Plowshares)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-olives/591815/2 "2011-08-07T13:14:39Z")
Kalamata olives. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Violaceous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Miss\_Violaceous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Violaceous)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-olives/591815/3 "2011-08-08T00:31:36Z")
Yes, kalamatas. They are the most common olive found on greek salad of decent quality. By the way, shiny black canned olives are the Kraft American Singles of olives. Welcome to the world of good olives. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-olives/591815/4 "2011-08-08T00:41:42Z")
> [@Miss\_Violaceous](#): > > By the way, shiny black canned olives are the Kraft American Singles of olives. Welcome to the world of good olives. For years I thought I didn’t like black olives. Turns out I just don’t like terrible black olives. ---
**Author:** ![Mrs.Cake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-olives/591815/5 "2011-08-08T00:48:01Z")
The only thing the shiny black “olives” were good for was to put on the ends of your fingers and chase your little brother arount the Thanksgiving table making monster noises. They went well with Cheez-Whiz-stuffed celery. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-olives/591815/6 "2011-08-08T14:32:42Z")
Thanks folks! I’m a gonna go out and get some kalamata olives today! (And it’s good to know that the shiny black olives aren’t the default olive flavor 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-olives/591815/7 "2011-08-08T14:37:47Z")
They’ve become hugely popular the last couple of years. You should have no trouble finding them at any decent-sized grocery.