Tapenade is normally (and for sure in this case) a savory olive based spread, generally flavored with a few other ingredients & joined together by some olive oil.
Tapenade is Mediterranean in origin, but nobody knows for sure exactly where the first batch of tapenade was whipped up.
The French have a claim.
The name “tapenade” comes from the Provençal word for capers. Capers used to trump olives as the main ingredient in this ancient spread.
The Italians have a claim.
Olive tapenade recipes pop up in ancient Latin cookbooks & other Roman texts.
And...as not to leave anybody out, some other folks may have a claim to being the mother of tapenade. You can find olivey goodness in lots of spreads/mezzes all around the Mediterranean (and other parts as well).
Spread-mmms is stealthily crafted from naturally gluten-free ingredients. However, all the sassy savory spreads are handmade in a facility where all sorts of other yummy things are made.
If you have specific gluten concerns, please send us your detailed questions & we will get you the information you need to make an informed decision about Spread-mmms consumption.
No animal products are used in the production of Spread-mmms Olive Tapenade, Mischievous Marmalade, nor in the majority of our other Sassy Savory Spreads.
Audacious Artichoke Spread & Rambunctious Roasted Red Pepper Spread are the only exceptions & they are lacto-ovo vegetarian friendly!!!
At this time, Spread-mmms is not a certified Kosher product. However, no meat is used in any of our spreads & the majority of our flavors are plant based (only two spreads contain dairy/eggs).
Although not a “superfood,” olives are a super good food. Olives & olive oil are regular parts of a Mediterranean Diet, long considered to be a healthy option. Olives & olive oil contain monounsaturated fat, a good fat. All sorts of science and nutrition big wigs say so.
Olives are also naturally cholesterol free! Additionally, many folks talk about antioxidants & other healthy secret ingredients that olives have. If you are interested, we encourage you to investigate on your own!!!
Lotsa folks who dislike olives may actually be more opposed to the olive brine than the olive itself. Spread-mmms uses brine-free, oil-cured olives -- problem solved!. If you have never tried this type of olive, give Spread-mmms a go!!! You might surprise yourself.
“It's actually surprising I even agreed to taste the tapenade, so firm is my aversion to olives. But I not only tasted it but I kept nibbling & nibbling it the whole afternoon. Now I'm stocking up for the holiday gift-giving & look forward to converting more olive-averse people!”-- Janet, Brooklyn NY
Unopened, you can store your Spread-mmms tapenade or marmalade just as you would any other jarred product (jam, salsa, etc.). Once you open it, best to store it in your refrigerator. Not saying it will keep 20 years to life in your fridge, but it lasts a long time (at least until the date on the jar). Other refrigerated Sassy Savory Spreads should be cold when you buy them & kept in the 'fridge (best by dates vary, so check the container for specifics).
There are many ways to cure olives. Some common ways are: brine-cured (with salt, vinegar (sometimes wine)), water-cured & lye-cured. Each of these methods either washes out some of the olive flavor, or inserts other flavors (from the brine/lye).
Our olives are oil-cured (also known as dry-cured or salt-cured). In this process, beautiful black Moroccan olives are rubbed (maybe sprinkled, maybe tossed) with some salt & left to cure naturally. When they are good & ready, excess salt is removed & they are given a quick coat of oil to preserve their state of perfection.
Since oil-cured olives do not absorb other liquids during their curing process, the pure bold flavor of the true olive shines through!!!
