olives

As the climate changes, olive trees have been pushing their way north in France, but southern France and Corsica are still the only commercial producers of olives and olive oil.

Most olives are sold unpitted (if they are pitted they are olives piquées). You can also get cans of tasty olives from Spain, stuffed with anchovies (olives farcies aux anchois), pimentos, tuna or almonds.

Some French varieties are designated AOC/AOP.

Table olives

Lucques: grown in the Aude and Hérault in Occitanie. A superb green or black table olive in a crescent shape. It is also used for oil, but difficult to extract