🫒 Uslu
Also known as: Akhisar Uslu Zeytini
A Turkish cultivar from Akhisar for black table olives; since 2010, the designation of origin “Akhisar Uslu Zeytini”.
Uslu is a Turkish olive cultivar from Akhisar in Manisa Province, used mainly for black table olives; after Gemlik, it is one of the country's main cultivars of this kind. The ripe fruit is glossy and deep black, with about 18% oil, and since 2010 “Akhisar Uslu Zeytini” has been a registered designation of origin in Turkey.
Most Uslu is grown in Manisa (Akhisar and Turgutlu), İzmir (Kemalpaşa and Selçuk) and Muğla Province. Planting it without irrigation is not recommended. The cultivar flowers and ripens early, pollinates itself and, with good care, bears regularly; Gemlik, Memecik and Erkence are recommended as pollinators nearby. Its wood is soft, so the tree is vulnerable to cold and some pests; where early frosts occur, it is better to harvest before the cold sets in.
The fruit is medium-sized and elongated-oval, with a slightly curved tip. When fully ripe it is glossy and deep black. There are about 260–280 olives per kilogram, and a hundred fruits weigh roughly 353 g. The flesh is soft and comes away easily from the stone, so the fruit needs careful handling during harvest and transport. It contains about 18% oil, with medium fruitiness, bitterness and pungency.
Reading the label. «Akhisar Uslu Zeytini» has been on Turkey's register since 2010 as designation of origin No. 165. It is reserved for olives from Uslu trees grown in Akhisar and the neighbouring districts of Gölmarmara, Salihli, Turgutlu, Saruhanlı and Kırkağaç. November is the best month to pick for black table olives. Jars under this name hold natural black olives as well as sliced ones, with or without the stone.
Facts
| Country | Turkey |
|---|---|
| Region | Manisa (Akhisar, Turgutlu), İzmir (Kemalpaşa, Selçuk), Muğla |
| Main use | Mainly black table olives |
| Fruit size | Medium, elongated-oval; 260–280 fruits per kilogram |
| Yield | Regular with good care; planting without irrigation is not recommended |
| Hardiness | Vulnerable to cold and some pests |
How it connects to Olives
🫒 Uslu → kind of → 🫒 Olive cultivars → kind of → 🫒 Olives
Links
- Part of
- 🫒 Olive cultivars
- Similar and different
- 🫒 Gemlik, 🫒 Domat
- Where it grows
- 📍 Aegean
- Which olives are made
- 🫒 Greek-style black olives
Frequently asked questions
What kind of olives are made from Uslu?
Mainly black table olives: whole natural ones, and sliced ones with or without the stone.
How does Uslu differ from Gemlik?
Both are Turkish cultivars for black olives; Gemlik is more widespread, while Uslu comes from Akhisar in Manisa Province.
How many Uslu olives are in a kilogram?
About 260–280; a hundred fruits weigh roughly 353 g.
Is it true that any black olives from Turkey can be called “Akhisar Uslu”?
No. It is registered designation of origin No. 165, covering only the Uslu cultivar from Akhisar and the neighbouring districts of Manisa Province.
When is Uslu harvested for black olives?
Ideally in November, when the fruit turns glossy black.
What to read next
- 📍 Aegean — The country's largest wine zone, around Izmir and Manisa.
- 🫒 Greek-style black olives — Nearly ripe olives fermented for 6–9 months in brine with 8–10% salt, without lye.
- 🫒 Domat — One of the main green table-olive cultivars of Turkey's Aegean region, originally from Akhisar in Manisa province.
Similar
🫒 Domat · 🫒 Kalamon · 🫒 Gemlik · 🫒 Konservolia · 🫒 Tsounati · 🫒 Memecik
Sources
- International Olive Council, World Catalogue of Olive Varieties: Uslu
- TÜRKPATENT: geographical indication No. 165 'Akhisar Uslu Zeytini'