Marmarabirlik Natural Black Olives with Oil (Doğal Siyah Zeytin, Yağlı Salamura) are naturally cured black table olives finished in a lightly oiled brine. This is the 3XS size, about 381 to 410 olives per kilogram, so the olives are small and tender. The resealable PET jar holds 950 g of drained olives, with a total net weight of 965 g according to the producer's catalogue. The olives are produced by the Marmara olive cooperative union in Turkey.
Naturally cured black olives like these are the classic start to a Turkish breakfast, next to white cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers, boiled eggs and plenty of tea. A thin film of oil gives them a glossy finish and a mellow bite. Try them warmed briefly in a pan with a spoonful of olive oil, a slice of lemon and a pinch of thyme, or stone and chop them into salads, flatbreads and savoury pastries.
Store the unopened jar in a cool, dry place; the producer's catalogue gives a shelf life of 18 months for the PET jar. After opening, press the olives under the brine, close the lid and keep the jar in the refrigerator, using a clean spoon each time.