Customer Reviews

Byzantine Fresh Olive Antipasto, 5-Pound Bag

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

These olives are of good quality, crisp, not too salty, just right!
A little more spice and it would be perfect!!
Still deserves 5 stars.

I bought these to sample the variety. I like them. There are a fair amount of herbs, garlic, and sweet pepper slices that add to the variety. I would set these out for company, snack, or meal without fear. Enjoy!

Total convenience, can't beat the price, either! These olives are wonderful for recipes, snacks, cocktails. Not too salty, each olive tastes distinctively different. My favorite way to use them: pit, chop roughly, toss into pasta with oil/butter/garlic. Mmmmmm

A wonderful bouquet of Mediterranean olives. They have an authentic crisp bite and flavor with the signature pit of a Mediterranean olive. I can't wait to order more.

These are high quality olives. The variety and spices are excellent. I have purchased these on three separate occasions since I discovered them here. The shipping was pretty timely, as well.

Yes, these olives remind me of my vacation to Europe. They know how to live and eat. Item came in strong plastic bag. Helpful hint ' you might want to save two large used glass jars before they arrive, so you can put olives in them. remember to add a little more water to top them off. The olive mixture is just right. (not salty). All I can say is enjoy.

We love the Byzatine Country Olives, 5-Pound Unit but admit that we love the Byzantine Fresh Olive Antipasto, 5-Pound Unit even more. Because I'm not usually fond of too much rosemary, I doubted that I'd like these as much, but I was oh so wrong! The assorted olives, garlic and red peppers are heightened by the large caperberries which I've rinsed off and deposited into a martini on occasion. This is a lovely assortment of Greek olives, each having its own unique texture and taste. If you are an olive lover, I think you'll enjoy this selection which arrives in a vacuum sealed package inside a cardboard box. As soon as I open a bag, I transfer the olives into very clean jars and share them with friends. I also add olive oil in some of the jars because there's not much liquid surrounding the olives. I also keep a jar for the mixologist to use, free of added oil.

These are so good. You can't beat the price either. There are a lot, but if you love olives it's no problem to use them up.

Updated 4/2010 - the price is nearly twice what it used to be. Still a decent deal, but not nearly the deal it was. The price has been going up for a while, but when I original reviewed them they were 19.87 for 5 pounds.

Delicious and a good value.

WHAT IT IS
I was at first put off by the description "antipasta". I've purchased Spanish mixes which were mostly pearl onions and tiny cucumbers---tasty, but not cost-effective for the olives. I've purchased "Mediterranean" mixes which were bare edible because the flavor was dominated by hot peppers and garlic. However, this "mix" is almost entirely olives, with some tasty capers, a very few small pieces of garlic, and a few slices of bell pepper (for color). It is flavorful, but the mild flavoring does not overwhelm the taste of the olives.

COMPARISION TO "BYZANTINE COUNTRY OLIVE MIX
The similar "Byzantine Country Olive Mix" Byzantine Country Olive Mix, 5-Pound Bag is about the same product without the capers, garlic, and bell peppers, and larger ratio of green olives (about 50% green with the BCOM, 40% green with the BFOA). Although I like the green olives better, I like the flavor of the "Byzantine Fresh Olive Antipasto" better, so the choice is is a close call. (I have subscriptions for both, on alternating months). I have no idea why the "Byzantine Fresh Olive Antipasto" is significantly cheaper.

PACKAGING
The packaging (into a heavy plastic bag) apparently consisted of draining the olives and then coating them with olive oil. Amazon packages the bag (folded in half) in a standard ca 3" x 8" x 12" cardboard box. The first order I placed (about 9 months ago) arrived with some of the softer olives a bit mashed, but Amazon has been improving packaging. The plastic bag is now wrapped in large bubble-wrap packaged in a box which is packaged in a larger box. The improved packaging greatly reduces damage to solf olives.

REPACKAGING
The olives are very salty, saltier than the "Byzantine Country Olive Mix". You may be tempted to soak them in plain water to reduce the salt content. Unless you plan to eat the olives in the next few hours, resist the temptation. First, you'll leach out too much salt and flavor. Second, the olives will rot in a few weeks. Really.

MAKING YOUR OWN BRINE
I suggest gently but thoroughly rinsing the olives when you receive them, ideally in a bowl of warm-hot water (to cut the excess olive oil). Then drain and repackage them in your own light brine and white vinegar mix in your own jars, and refrigerate. The light brine will reduce the saltiness of the olives to an appropriate level in a day or two. It will take about 5 cups of water, about 1/4 cup (4 tbsp) of salt, and 1/3 cup (6 tbsp) of white vinegar to your taste. Some people like olives salty, some like them vinegary, so adjust to your preferance. It is best to use "sea-salt" or pickling salt (if you have any handy), because brine made from regular processed salt can get cloudy.

EVALUATION
Some of the olives are firm, some are soft---that's simply the nature of a true mix. Most Americans (like myself), raised on pimento-stuffed queen olives think that they don't like soft olives. Indeed, mushy queen olives are yucky. However, some types of olives are meant to be soft, and are best soft. It is an acquired taste, worth acquiring. The mix includes a large variety of olives, both firm and soft. It is said that the key to oriental cuisine is variety---a variety of colors, textures, and flavors. The same is true of an olive mix meant for snacking or as the basis of a light meal.

If you eat olives regularly, Amazon's subscription service is worth considering. I'm signed up for monthly shipments and have recieved 3 shipments so far, with no problems.

Recommendation 1: A half-can of chick-peas, a diced tomato, a half-cup of these mixed olives, all mixed together with a little olive oil is a wonderful, tasty, health, lunch. Alternatively, I often eat these with a dish of mixed nuts, diced cheeze squares, and apple slices.

Recommendation 2: There is a whole world of olives out their worth exploring. As just example, Grabers Ripe Green Olives are more different from stuffed queen olives than you can imagine, but are marvelous. Mild and nutty. Graber Olives Size 14 7.5 oz. Can

This assortment of olives in light oil with rosemary, red peppers, and light spices is delicious and long-lasting. Great for doing a large buffet, appetizer plate, holiday meal, or to keep in the fridge during times when company may stop in. Just pour into a bowl and serve - festive and great for snacking. Very yummy!