Yes, green olives are picked before they are fully ripe.
Understanding Olive Ripeness
The color of an olive indicates its ripeness level. Green olives are harvested when they're still young and have not yet undergone the full ripening process. This is in contrast to black olives, which are allowed to ripen on the tree before being picked. The difference in ripeness affects the flavor and texture of the olive.
- Green Olives: Picked before ripening; firmer texture, more bitter flavor.
- Black Olives: Picked when ripe; softer texture, milder flavor.
It's important to note that some olives may be artificially blackened through processing, so color isn't always the definitive indicator of ripeness, although naturally green olives are always unripe when harvested.
