A list of just plain lovely gift ideas for olive lovers, from an olive lover herself!
OLIVES!!!
I am a self-proclaimed olive lover! When the classic controversial question of “should we get olives on the pizza” appears, I am there, ready to stand in defense of the little gems. And here’s the thing- it’s not just about how they taste. I mean, it very well could be, they’re wonderful, but on top of that! They’re also flipping adorable! Like c’mon! They’re one of the most visually aesthetically pleasing foods to ever exist! And if that doesn’t matter to you, then you’re on the wrong website, I’m sorry to say, because it will come up again. LOL!
So, shopping for an olive enthusiast, are we? Well whether they drizzle extra virgin olive oil on everything, snack on Castelvetrano olives like popcorn, or swear by the health benefits of Mediterranean eating, this list has you covered. From gourmet olive oil gifts to darling themed olive products, here are 12 thoughtful (and delicious) ideas that could make the perfect present for any olive lover in your life!
1. Olive Sampler
If they can’t pick a favorite, get them a curated olive sampler! It could feature an exquisite assortment of Italian olives, Greek olives, Spanish olives, French olives, or EVEN Croatian olives. (I bet you didn’t know all those countries even produced olives! And if you did, good job, because I had to google it HAHA) With a sampler they can explore rich flavors from all over the world, one olive at a time!
2. Cute and Unique Olive Oil Bottles
Any true olive oil lover knows that not all olive oil is created equal. And any design lover knows that not all containers and dispensers are created equal either. Gift them a set of pretty and unique ml bottles to be their new olive oil dispensers! And if you wanted to go the extra mile, you could even fill them with the best olive oil from renowned regions like Tuscany, Greece, and Spain. Thoughtful for home cooks who appreciate rich flavor in every dish. This could be the perfect for the friend who argues about olive oil quality like it’s a sport.
3. Olive Boat
Olive WHAT? If you’ve never heard of an olive boat before, that’s okay! Neither had I, until a couple months ago when a very dear friend gifted me a ceramic olive boat she had made herself, and it was such a special gift for me. An olive boat is a long, narrow serving dish designed specifically for holding and displaying olives. It’s usually ceramic, wood, or glass and is shaped like a small canoe, making it easy to arrange olives in a neat row. Basically, it’s the VIP lounge for olives. You can find a lot of beautiful options on Etsy!
Here’s my olive boat in action! Only I was using it for dates this time LOL! How embarrassing haha!
4. Olive Tapenade
Some people snack on chips, while others crave olive tapenade. It’s just the way the world goes. A tapenade (perhaps made of kalamata olives) could be a lovely gift for that friend who brings the best appetizers to every gathering! I found this delectable recipe here from Love & Lemons perfect for spreading on crackers, sandwiches, or just eating straight from the jar (hey- no judgment).
5. Olive Tote or tee
I’m a big tote bag enthusiast, and a pretty little canvas tote with an olive design on the side would make me swoon! Or maybe an olive-themed tee is more their speed? Both have the potential to be oh so cute!
6. Olive Themed Jewelry
Remember when I said olives are freaking CUTE? Let’s expound. I don’t know what it is about the little fruits, but I find them so dang darling! I will say, as far as visual aesthetics go, green olives are cuter than black olives, to me. Especially with a little red pimiento! AAA! Adorable! And one Christmas, my mama did an A+ job, and got me these precious little green olive earrings! If your olive lover wears jewelry, I would highly suggest checking out Etsy for some novelty jewelry.
7. Charcuterie Board
If you have an olive enthusiasts on your hands, they’re almost certainly going to want to show off their olive repertoire. And charcuterie boards are never complete without olives! A beautiful wooden cutting board could potentially be the perfect present (and hey! Maybe you can snag yourself a dinner invite to see the bad boy in action!)
8. Aged Balsamic Vinegar & Olive Oil Duo
Few things in life are as satisfying as the combination of extra virgin olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar. This classic pairing is perfect for drizzling over salads, dipping bread, or making fancy vinaigrettes. I recently watched a really sweet video (on Instagram or something) of a mama showing her little girl the “magic” of bread dipped in olive oil and balsamic vinegar in her mother’s French kitchen…and yeah, if that’s not #lifegoals then I don’t know what is. This could be the perfect gift for the home cook who takes salad dressing way too seriously.
9. Pasta Lover’s Gift Baskets
Maybe I’m generalizing here, but I have found that often the same people who are the biggest olive lovers are also the biggest pasta lovers! If this is true for YOUR olive lover, maybe consider putting together a meal prepped gift basket for them! Get a bag of unique dry pasta, find a delicious sauce, throw in a jar of stuffed olives, and maybe a French lemonade too, all placed together in a cute basket you found at the thrift store, and boom! You’ve got yourself a fantastic gift! (My friends and family should take notes, I would love this HAHAHA)
10. Gourmet Stuffed Olives
Or maybe they don’t need the whole pasta meal! Maybe they just need a selection of some DELECTABLE stuffed olives. You can find a variety of stuffed olives at the grocery store (my favorite are these garlic and jalapeno stuffed green olives from Trader Joe’s. They are SO good)
11. Cutie Martini Glasses
Now personally, I don’t drink, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like fancy glasses. Trust me- I do. And whether the olive enthusiast in your life for would be pouring alcohol or just virgin dirty martinis, a set of cutie glasses to show off their martini olives might just be the thing to bring a grin to their face!
Pretty please give much love & appreciation to my little martini doodle HAHAHA
12. Olive-Themed Kitchen Accessories
If they already have an entire pantry dedicated to olives, go for something fun like olive-patterned tea towels, an olive wood spoon, or a cute ceramic dish for serving their favorite snack. There are so many novelty items you can find that are olive themed so get creative!
The Best Gift for Olive Lovers? Anything Olive-Related!
No matter which option you choose, these gifts are going to make any olive lover swoon. Whether you go for a gift box with samples, or a cute themed everyday item, you can’t go wrong with something delicious, stylish, and Mediterranean-inspired.
XOXO, Attalie
P.S. here’s a little silly little extra virgin olive oil design I drew!
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