It is green gold. There are reasons for it.
There are many treasures in Sicily, which deserve to slowly be discovered and exposed. Some of them are the great protagonists in Italian cuisine.
Bronte is a village located on Mount Etna. It’s known for its green-gold and also has a rich history of mythology and love. Cyclops is the Emperor of Constantinople and Pope Borgia. Admiral Nelson, Heatcliff and Nino Bixio are some of the other characters.
The Bronte Pistachio (ph. Dipartimento Reg.Le Agricoltura UO S8.12 Bronte
Bronte, which means “thunder”, is the name given to one of Hephaestus’s Cyclopes at the Etna forges. This is where Zeus’ thunderbolts were forged.
Bronte’s Cave is the place where dwarf elephants died in Sicily, and where their skulls are found. The large hole at the skull’s front for the proboscis was mistakenly thought to be an eye of Cyclops. This is where the legend about the Cyclops started. Yes, dwarf elephants were never allowed to try the pistachio. The Arab invasion brought the dwarf elephants to Bronte. In fact, the Muslims planted in the Sicilian lava soil the finest Middle East plants: peaches and citrus fruits. And then, pistachios were all that remained.
Pianta di pistacchio – ph. Paolo Barone
The frastuca is the green gold. It’s a kind of medicine. The flavour and aroma make it unique in ice creams and sweet or salty sauces.
For those not from the area, the pistachio used to be a green flavor that was served as an appetizer in pubs. It wasn’t something you could use for homemade ice-cream. Things have changed. There is more awareness and more curiosity about the true flavour of this green gold.
The Bronte pistachio-ph. Dip. Reg.le Turismo UO S8.12 Bronte
Bronte is home to pistachios, a ritual that includes all members of the population, even children.
Pistachio planting is a family tradition passed down from father to child. According to peasant culture, the plant’s ability to absorb from the lava soil the substances necessary to produce richer aromas as well as a distinct taste is due to its “rest”.
Pistacchio di Bronte – ph. Paolo Barone
This is because of the steep terrain and the risk of fruit dispersion between volcanic rocks, picking this fruit can be difficult. You can still collect the fruit manually from the trees, by either dropping them into a container on your shoulder or shaking the branches. In some cases, you may even use an umbrella upside-down.
The precious emerald that is contained within the shell can only be grown by rock. It is not necessary to imitate, as the green piscio DOP is sweet and fragrant only when the soil has been soaked in sweat and tears.
Siciliy. Food and wine
