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Termite di Bitetto is known for its striking colour changes during ripening. The fruits can develop from green and straw yellow through pink and reddish shades to darker tones. It is this natural transition that gives the olive its characteristic appearance.
A bowl of Termite di Bitetto can therefore almost look as though several different olive varieties have been mixed together, while in reality they are all the same cultivar at different stages of ripeness.
The characteristic colour variation of Termite di Bitetto develops naturally as the olives ripen. This means the appearance can differ from harvest to harvest and from jar to jar. In some jars the pink, red and darker shades are very clearly visible, while others may contain mainly greener or more evenly coloured olives. This is completely normal for a natural product and does not indicate any difference in taste or quality.
Termite di Bitetto has firm, juicy flesh and a mild, aromatic flavour. Compared with many more assertive table olives, the bitterness is restrained, making this a particularly easy olive to enjoy simply on its own.
Its fruity character and subtle nutty impression provide enough complexity to remain interesting without overpowering the rest of an antipasti board.
Termite di Bitetto is found mainly in and around the municipality of Bitetto, not far from Bari. The cultivar is also known by names such as Cima di Bitetto, Mele di Bitetto and Oliva Mele.
That makes it very different from international table olives grown across huge areas. Here you are tasting a genuinely local product with a clear connection to one small part of Puglia.
Put a bowl on the table with good bread, cheese and a glass of wine. This olive really needs very little else.
Combine with ripe tomato, pecorino, basil and a fruity Extra Virgin olive oil.
Add the olives only at the end to roasted peppers, courgette and aubergine so they retain their firm texture.
Choose Bella di Cerignola if you particularly enjoy a very large, fleshy and distinctly mild table olive. Choose Termite di Bitetto if you prefer a slightly more rustic regional speciality with a fascinating natural play of colours and a mild, aromatic flavour. Of course, the most enjoyable option is to serve them side by side and compare.
Termite di Bitetto does not need to look as though every olive came from the same mould. Differences in colour, ripeness and appearance are part of the product itself. Add the firm flesh and mild, aromatic flavour and you have a table olive with far more personality than an anonymous standard olive.
| Content | 550 g |
| Country of origin | Italy |