No, black olives are not green. Here's why:
While it might seem confusing, black olives and green olives are actually the same fruit. They come from the same olive tree. The difference lies in their maturity:
- Green olives are picked before they are fully ripe.
- Black olives are left on the tree to mature further, allowing them to change color to a dark purple-black.
Think of it like peppers:
| Pepper Color | Ripeness |
|---|---|
| Green | Unripe |
| Red, Yellow, Orange | Ripe |
The same principle applies to olives. The reference states: "Green and black olives are the same fruit; black olives are simply left on the tree to mature for longer and change to a darker purple-black colour. Just like red, green, yellow and orange peppers all come from the same plant at different points of ripeness."
Therefore, while they start green, black olives are the result of the olive fruit continuing to ripen past the green stage. They are no longer green in color.
