Top food was olives in time of the ancient mariner

al-Reuters ^ | Thursday, August 12, 2010 | Michele Kambas (ed by Paul Casciato)

[SonnyBubba]

An olive is an olive. A black olive is simply a ripe olive.
Green olives have to be cured in brine or would way to bitter to eat.

[Outlaw Woman]

Absolutely amazing. Where in the world did you find this?

[goseminoles]

Good to know! I love all olives!!!

[ApplegateRanch]

Ever (try to) eat a tree-ripened olive? “There can only be one!” Any more than that marks you as a determined, masochistic Darwinian Candidate.

I really have to wonder who (and how/why) discovered the process to make them edible.

“Yech! You can’t eat those things!”

“Blech!! I can’t drink this crap, either...”

“Hey; maybe if I soak those in this, then ....”

[texmexis best]

I love olives any way they appear.

There are a number of foods that seem unlikely as a food source for early man. Lobster is one that comes to mind.

[Hot Tabasco]

these pips must have been part of the crew's food supply,

...or they drank lots of martinis.

[GeronL]

probably something they could grow relatively easily, make oil from and it was a food. It was one of those products that could probably be used for currency.

[ADemocratNoMore]

May I suggest that if you ever get a chance, you try “Graber Olives”. Ummm, ummm, ummm!. Tree ripened, green-brown with a unique nut-like flavor. Well worth the price (close to $10 a can). Great for special occasions.

[SunkenCiv]

I’ve got some family members who might appreciate those, thanks for the tip!

[ApplegateRanch]

I’d rather have the olive. Ever try to dress a salad with, or to burn, ‘horse oil’?

It is much easier to sit in the shade of an olive tree, then in the shade of a horse. Can’t sling a hammock or hang a swing from a hourse’s limbs, either.

Horses reproduce too slowly, and require too much year round work, and take up too much pasture that cows could use, for the amount of meat they produce.

[SunkenCiv]

Transparent glass dates from too late to provide verification of this, but *we* know the truth now... ;’)

[Red_Devil 232]

Yep! All they had to do was plant it. No irrigation required and is drought tolerant.

[Rinnwald]

And the horse tips over your Martini glass.

[ApplegateRanch]

And the horse tips over your Martini glass. ..and then steps on the olive.

[colorado tanker]

Did someone say "gin"?

[billhilly]

aThere are a number of foods that seem unlikely as a food source for early man. Lobster is one that comes to mind.”

Imagine the first person to eat an oyster.

[RegulatorCountry]

Imagine the poor starving b*stard that first ate chitlins.

[texmexis best]

That’s one of the ones that remain without any explanation that is satisfactory.

[Alistair Stratford IV]

Hahaha...nice.

[shibumi]

Black olives, pitted and stuffed with anchovies, then marinated two days in the olive juice and anchovy brine, and an equal amount of Kalamata.

Served with a sweet creamy cheese, like Havarti and sesame bread.

Preferred beverage - two ounces of Arak (best is Razzook or elKazen) in a wine glass, light rocks and spring water.