Are olives fruits or vegetables?

Olives are fruits, specifically a type of stone fruit, which means they have a pit or stone inside. This places olives in the same category as cherries, peaches, and plums. While they are often used in savory dishes, olives are not considered vegetables. Vegetables are typically defined as the edible parts of plants such as leaves, stems, or roots. Fruits, on the other hand, are the mature ovaries of a flowering plant, and contain seeds. Olives fit this definition because they are the mature ovary of the olive tree, containing a seed inside.

Olives are botanically fruits. They are the fruits of the olive tree, which is a flowering plant. Botanically speaking, a fruit is a seed-bearing structure that develops from the ovary of a flowering plant, whereas a vegetable is any plant part that is used for food, such as the leaves, stems, roots, or flowers.

Olives are typically harvested green and then cured in a variety of ways to produce black, green, or purple olives. They are often used in cooking and can also be eaten raw. Olives are a good source of dietary fiber, vitamin E, and monounsaturated fatty acids.

While olives are botanically fruits, they are often considered to be vegetables in the culinary sense. This is because they are typically used in savory dishes, such as salads, pizzas, and sandwiches. Additionally, the taste of olives is more savory than sweet, which is another characteristic of vegetables.

Ultimately, whether or not olives are considered to be fruits or vegetables is a matter of definition. Botanically speaking, they are fruits, but in the culinary sense, they are often considered to be vegetables.