Marmarabirlik Turkish Green Cocktail Olives Jar 1500g

Marmarabirlik Cocktail Green Olives are whole green table olives packed in brine in a large glass jar. The label describes them as "işlem görmüş" (treated) green olives in brine, sold whole as cocktail olives, and the producer's catalogue lists the size as 4XL-3XL, roughly 141 to 180 olives per kilogram. The jar holds 1500 g in total, of which 850 g is the drained weight of the olives. Marmarabirlik is the Marmara olive growers' cooperative union, founded in 1954, and the olives are a product of Turkey.

At a Turkish table these olives belong on the breakfast spread beside white cheese, sliced tomatoes, cucumbers and fresh bread. They work just as well on a meze platter, in a mixed salad or as a nibble with drinks. For a quick marinade, rinse a handful, toss them with olive oil, lemon juice, chilli flakes and dried thyme and leave them for half an hour. The generous size also suits stuffing with almonds, a cube of cheese or a strip of roasted pepper.

Keep the unopened jar in a cool, dry place; the producer's catalogue gives a shelf life of 24 months. Once opened, keep the olives covered in their brine, close the lid firmly and store the jar in the refrigerator, using a clean spoon each time.