While home decor and aesthetics in the home have been popular for many decades now, there has been an increase in the trend for sustainable homewares in recent years. As we realise our impact on the environment, people no longer want throwaway items or mass-produced decor.  

Instead, there is a rise in people looking for natural, long-lasting materials for their home, but they still want them to be stylish and look good. One such material that offers sustainable benefits, a timeless style, beauty, practicality and longevity is olive wood.

If you are looking for a thoughtful investment for your kitchenware, rather than a disposable purchase, read on as we explore the many benefits of olive wood together and the types of products you can buy for your kitchen using this beautiful wood.

What Makes Olive Wood Special

Olive wood has a real richness and uniqueness to its colour and grain.  Somehow, it appears to have a more luxurious look and feel rather than a rustic, rugged feel.

Olive wood is sourced, as the name suggests, from olive trees, which are slow-growing, creating a dense and durable wood with character.

It's known for its strength, being such a hardened wood, smooth texture and its resistance to damage.  All these characteristics combined make it perfect for creating high-quality and aesthetically pleasing kitchenware that will stand the test of time.

The Natural Beauty of Olive Wood

These special qualities and the natural beauty of olive wood make it ideal for creating kitchen utensils such as salad servers and wooden spoons, as well as larger items such as salad bowls, fruit bowls and serving platters to set the tone for dinner parties and special events with a natural yet elegant feel.

The wood has rich golden tones and can suit both modern and traditional kitchens.  With unique grain patterns, no two pieces will ever look the same, which is ideal for those creating a unique kitchen space which steps away from the mass-produced products that every other home has.

Olive Wood Section Tapas Dish perfect for tapas, or small snacks such as nuts and dried fruits.

Olive Wood Has Natural Antibacterial Qualities

One big benefit of using olive wood in the kitchen, as with using cork kitchenware, is its natural antibacterial qualities. This makes it a hygienic natural material for cutting boards, bowls and other items that are in regular contact with the food.

Olive wood contains various natural oils and compounds, including something called oleuropein, which is antibacterial.

Some other reasons include the fact that it has a tight grain structure due to it being a slow-growing wood, which helps prevent bacteria from settling into the wood.  This density also prevents stains and odours. All in all, this offers peace of mind for preparing and serving food.

A Timeless, High-End Look Without the Luxury Price Tag

As I mentioned before, although these are natural pieces of wood with multiple grain patterns, there is something more luxurious feeling about olive wood rather than it feeling so raw, rugged and rustic. 

It has a premium handcrafted feel to it, even in its simplest form.  Perhaps this is due to its smoothness and colour, but it definitely feels like it carries a premium pricetag, but you can actually buy olive wood pieces for a very affordable pricetag, especially given their look and longevity.

It’s a stylish and timeless investment that won’t ever go out of fashion and can match many decor styles in the kitchen.

Olive Wood Fish Shaped Tapas Dish - perfect for serving small nibbles in a unique way.

A Cost-Effective Choice Because of Its Longevity

Even if you pay slightly more for olive wood compared to cheaper, softer woods that don’t have the same appealing beauty, the cost-effectiveness will prove itself over time.  One well-crafted piece can last for decades, if not your entire lifetime or more.

As it doesn’t go out of fashion and isn’t a fad, it will reduce the need for replacements due to ever-changing homeware trends or lower-quality products that are cheaper but don’t last anywhere near as long.

Olive Wood Salad and Fruit Bowl - the perfect centrepiece for mealtime salad presentations, or to display fruit in the middle of your kitchen island.

Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Appeal

As for the eco-friendly benefits of olive wood as a material for your kitchenware, there are many.  Firstly, it’s long-lasting, hardwearing and durable, meaning it won’t need replacing often, if ever.

Next, it’s important to note that olive wood pieces are often made from retired or pruned olive trees.

These are natural products that avoid plastic or other synthetic materials, which are better for the environment due to non-harmful manufacturing methods, especially when the trees are grown organically and for their fruit first and foremost, as well as for our own health in the kitchen when it comes to food preparation.

Buying olive wood products means you are supporting long-term and responsible craftsmanship instead of toxic, factory mass-produced materials.

Perfect for Everyday Use in the Kitchen

Olive wood kitchenware isn’t just designed to look pretty in the kitchen and only come out occasionally - it’s intended for everyday use.  

It can be used with both hot and cold food, has a comfortable weight to it and a smooth touch, perfect for using every day and wiping and cleaning regularly.

Uses include serving, cooking, prepping and displaying food from cooking utensils to serving boards and bowls; the options are endless!

Olive Wood Serving Boards: Practical and Stylish

One of my favourite uses for olive wood is as a serving board for sharing platters, appetisers or bread and oils.  Many serving boards have handles, like a paddle-style serving board, making it easy to carry food from the kitchen to the dining table in a wonderfully presented fashion!

You can cut directly on the boards, such as cutting bread, as the hardwood is strong enough to withstand regular cutting and serving.  Ideal if you love hosting dinner parties often.

Olive Wood Serving Spoon - perfect for cooking and serving up your culinary delights.

Olive Wood Fruit and Salad Bowls: Useful and Beautiful

From companies online, such as Portuguese Treasures, you can purchase large fruit or salad bowls made from olive wood.  These are ideal for placing on your kitchen sides or kitchen islands to display your fruit, or for use as salad bowls with serving spoons at mealtimes.

They make a naturally elegant centrepiece for both uses, bringing warmth and a visually appealing look to dinner times or for storing fruit or as decorative items.

How to Care for Olive Wood Kitchenware

While olive wood is durable and hard, it does need a little care to keep it looking its best and prevent the wood from cracking.  Follow these care tips to keep your wood looking its best for as long as possible:

• Hand wash and dry immediately with a hand towel, then leave to air dry.

• Do not soak or use a dishwasher.

• Rub with natural oil, such as olive oil, now and then to maintain the sheen and to keep the wood moisturised.

• Store away from extreme heat or moisture for longevity.

Olive Wood Paddle Serving Board - beautiful natural unique olive wood grains on boards with handles just perfect for serving sharing platters, breads and more at mealtimes.

Final Thoughts on Using Olive Wood as Kitchenware

As you can see, olive wood is a timeless, high-quality choice for modern and traditional kitchens.  It offers durability, beauty and long-term value for anyone who wants high-quality kitchenware that lasts.

From olive wood salad bowls to olive wood chopping boards and serving trays, opting for this luxurious wood will give you the perfect balance of function, sustainability and style.