Cultivating and processing tomatoes is possible in many areas in Italy, but three regions account for almost 90% of production: Puglia, with more than 50%; Emilia-Romagna, with 30% and Campania, with about 8%.
Where are the best tomatoes grown in Italy?
San Marzano: Perhaps one of the best known varieties, the San Marzano tomato is a DOP-certified plum tomato, thin and pointed, which is grown near Napoli.
Where are San Marzano tomatoes grown in Italy?
San Marzano tomatoes thrive in warmer climates, which is why the Sarnese Nocerino area of Italy is the ideal location to grow them. The Agro Nocerino Sarnese is a geographical region in Campania between the provinces of Salerno and Naples.
How did tomatoes end up in Italy?
Tomatoes reached Italy in 1548, where they were given a chilly-but-curious reception at first due to their unusual qualities. They were initially associated with eggplants, another foreign vegetable that had been introduced to Europe from abroad, in this case from the Middle East.
Why are tomatoes grown in Italy?
Southern Italy, particularly the Campania region is synonymous with tomatoes. The Mediterranean climate and rich volcanic soils are ideal growing conditions.
What are the best canned Italian tomatoes?
San Marzanos are the best canned tomatoes in the world, the crème de la crème, the gold standard by which all others must be judged. Back in the day, hunting down a can of them took time and effort; nowadays, you’ll find a few different varieties on the shelves in most supermarkets.
What is the name of Italian tomatoes?
The Roma tomato is the very essence of Italian tomatoes, is the perfect ingredient for stews, sauces and tomato paste.
What’s the difference between San Marzano and Roma tomatoes?
Description. Compared to the Roma tomato, San Marzano tomatoes are thinner and more pointed. The flesh is much thicker with fewer seeds, and the taste is stronger, sweeter, and less acidic.
Are San Marzano tomatoes good to eat raw?
San Marzano tomatoes are plump and meaty with few seeds and a complex flavor. Their perfect acidity and true sweetness come out when cooked. To be quite honest, when eaten raw, this tomato is somewhat forgettable, but it undergoes a wondrous transformation once prepared.
What brand of San Marzano tomatoes is the best?
San Marzano tomatoes are slightly sweet, not too acidic and lend themselves well to flavors like basil and oregano which you’ll find in this marinara recipe. And the best San Marzano tomatoes for your homemade sauces have to be Alessi Pomodoro San Marzano, according to our Test Kitchen.
What did they eat in Italy before tomatoes?
Before tomatoes, the Italian diet was largely similar to the diet throughout the rest of the Mediterranean. Bread, pasta, olives, and beans were all staples, and Italians also made a variety of different types of polenta.
Who first brought tomatoes to Italy?
The political tomato
Brought to Europe by the Spanish when they colonized the Americas — it’s an Aztec plant, as we can tell by its original name, “tomatl” — by the mid-1500s, it had made its way to Italy.
What country did Tomatoes originate from?
In Their Native Andes, Tomatoes Grow Wild
Cultivated tomatoes apparently originated as wild forms in the Peru-Ecuador-Bolivia area of the Andes. Moderate altitudes in that mountainous land abound today in a wide range of forms of tomato, both wild and cultivated.
Why do tomatoes taste better in Italy?
Why do tomatoes from Italy taste so good? … The volcanic soil and nearby sea provide an ideal environment for tomato plants. Sweet and only slightly tart, the Black Bull’s Heart has a dense, meaty texture with an almost black skin.”
Where do the best tomatoes come from?
However, it’s California that ranks first in United States tomato production for both fresh-market tomatoes and tomatoes for processing (turned into juice, sauce, paste, salsa, etc.), according to the USDA. Here’s the list of top tomato-growing states for fresh-market tomatoes in 2018: California.