Olives are small fruits that grow on the olive tree, scientifically known as Olea europaea , a subtropical evergreen tree in the family Oleaceae

. Botanically, olives are classified as drupes or stone fruits, which means they have a fleshy outer part surrounding a single hard pit or seed inside, similar to peaches, cherries, and plums

. Olives are native to the Mediterranean region and have been cultivated for thousands of years, with some ancient olive trees still alive today

. They are harvested at different stages of ripeness, with green olives picked before they fully ripen and black olives picked when ripe

. Olives are not eaten raw because they are very bitter; instead, they are typically cured or brined to make them palatable. They are used in various culinary ways including as whole olives in salads, sandwiches, and spreads, and most importantly, olives are pressed to produce olive oil, a key ingredient in the Mediterranean diet known for its health benefits

. In summary, olives are edible fruits from the olive tree, valued both as a food and for producing olive oil, and are an important part of Mediterranean cuisine and culture