Health Benefits of Green Olives. Olives are a fruit that grows on the olive tree, which grows in the Mediterranean, tropical and central Asia, and parts of Africa. Researchers have found olive seeds in Spain that date back 8,000 years, and archaeological evidence suggests that early civilizations cultivated olive trees as a crop as early as 2500 BCE. Raw olives are far too bitter to eat, and can only be enjoyed after they are processed, usually by curing or pickling them. Most olives are made into olive oil, but some olives are preserved to be enjoyed in meals, especially in Mediterranean cuisine. Green olives are olives that are harvested before they are fully ripe. Their distinct flavor is due, in part, to the fact that they are soaked in lye before being brined in oil. https://i0.wp.com/images-prod.healthline.com/hlcmsresource/images/AN_images/olives-1296x728-feature.jpg?w=1155&h=1528