High-Quality Italian Products

At Summer in Italy we do care about our guests, and this is why, in order to help you making your food shopping in Italy just perfect, we would like to share a few tips about high-quality local products.

The brands of quality (DOP, IGP, STG) are collective brands that permit to identify a typical product obtained by the companies that have precise productive and environmental characteristics and that take take port to a control system. The products with collective brands are controlled and certified by an Organism of control that guarantees the conformity. The Denomination of Protected Origin (DOP) is the name of a Region, a specific place or, in exceptional cases, of a Country, that designates the agricultural and food-products, with exclusion of those made with liqueur original of such area, whose qualities are tied to the geographical environment, comprehensive of natural and human factors and whose transformation and elaboration take place within that specific area.

Geographical protected and identified (IGP) is the name of a Region, a specific place or, in exceptional cases, of a Country that designates original products of such area in which a determined quality, the reputation rather than other characteristics can be attributed to the geographical origin and/or transformation and/or elaboration take place in that area. The IGP products are different from the DOP because at least one the whole stages of the production or transformation cycle has to occur into that local region.

The Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (SGT) or Attestation Of Guaranteed Specificity (AS) is a collective brand that designate an agricultural and food product that has some characteristics (specificities) that clearly distinguished from other products or analogous aliments pertaining to the same category. An STG product is not linked just to a specific territory but you can refer it to a more wide area that shares culture, tradition and a common way to transform products into specialities. The famous Mozzarella – for instance – has been awarded with the STG brand by the Political Agricultural and Forest Ministry (MiPAF) with decree 28th June 2001.

The Biological products come from a special agricultural method that excludes the use of synthesis chemical herbicidal. Precise parameters indicate that for the fertilization, the defence of the plants and a control of infesting can be used exclusively techniques approved by the communitarian norm.

All the biological products are marked by an appropriate code of acknowledgement through which you can go back to the producer or transformation company as well as to the company that has carried out the controls. With the EEC Reg. n 331/2000 the European Community has adopted a unique logo for all the EEC countries that can be optionally affixed on the label in order to facilitate the acknowledgement of the biological product.

Albicocca Vesuviana
Campania is the leading region in apricot cultivation.
Alici di Menaica
The villages scattered all around the Cilento coast maintain a very ancient fishing technique, but non so closely tied to it than the pretty town of Pisciotta.
Aperitivi - Happy Hour Italian Style
A pre-dinner drink for relaxing, socializing and enjoying a glass of vino with a few nibbles – sounds like happy hour!
Burrata
Burrata is a creamy fresh cheese that is a specialty of the Puglia region.
Cacioricotta
Cacioricotta is a soft cheese typical of the Cilento National Park.
Coffee, Italian Style
With more than 250,000 coffee bars within the peninsula, it's obvious that Italians are passionate about coffee.
Colatura di Alici
A specialty of Cetara on the Amalfi Coast is a centuries' old tradition of fish preservation, and the results are delicious.
Fagiolina del Trasimeno
Since 2000, Castiglione del Lago has homed a Slow Food presidium in order to promote and conserve the Fagiolina del Trasimeno.
Italian Coffee Drinks
With more than 250,000 coffee bars within the peninsula, it's obvious that Italians are passionate about coffee.
Italian Happy Hour!
A pre-dinner drink for relaxing, socializing and enjoying a glass of vino with a few nibbles – sounds like happy hour!
Pecorino Bagnolese
Pecorino Bagnolese is a cheese made with raw sheep milk coming from bagnolese ewes.
Prosciutto di Norcia IGP
Prosciutto di Norcia is a cured prosciutto crudo, produced in the mountains of eastern Umbria.
Ragusano DOP Cheese
The Ragusano DOP is one of the oldest cheese traditions on the island of Sicily, and one of the most flavorful, too.
Sicily's Almonds
Sicily has a reputation for its sweets, and many are created with the island's almonds, a tradition for centuries.
Vino Sfuso -Wine Shop
BYOB - And Fill It Up A unique store found in many Italian towns is the cantina for vino sfuso.
Wine Fountain
There is a refreshing font where wine flows freely for anyone who wants it.
Zeppole di San Giuseppe
Saint Joseph's Day is March 19, which is also Father's Day in Italy.
Mamma Agata: Simple and Genuine
If you have searched the web looking for activities to do while vacationing on the Amalfi Coast, there is no doubt that you have already read about Mamma Agata and her incredible cooking school in Ravello.
The Scoop on Sandwiches, Italian Style
We know that dining is one of the highlights of any trip to Italy.
Starting the Day the Italian Way
Forget bacon and eggs.
Have Your Fish, and Clean It Too
Since Italy is a peninsula surrounded by three seas, it is no surprise that seafood makes its appearance on plates all over the country.
Hot Days, Cold Drinks
The dog days of summer…the old expression rings true throughout Italy when the heat hits.
Pazzo for Pizza
Italy is known for its fabulous cuisine, and pizza is probably the item most beloved world-wide.
Mozzarella di Bufala
Have you ever wondered how to get milk from a herd of buffalo?
Liquid Sunshine
Once you have peeled your eyes away from the stupendous scenery of the Amalfi Coast, one of the first things you’re bound to notice is the large lemons hanging from the trees.
Great Roman Wines
The stereotyped image of the Roman 'osteria' is so captivating to condition for centuries the whole regional wine production.
Extra-virgin olive oil of Colline Salernitane
The hills that surround the city of Salerno and stretch from the Amalfi Coast to the Cilento National Park give an extra-virgin olive oil with an intense colour and a unique fruity taste.
Pane di Agerola
Agerola is known as "Città del Pane" - city of bread – nationwide popular brand that recognizes some Italian towns where this product assumes a special value due to the peculiar characteristics.
Provolone del Monaco DOP
In ancient times, the shepherds in Agerola dressed a big mantle to take shelter from cool and dampness, and reached Naples to sell their products.
White Fig of Cilento DOP
Its unique and special characteristics, very much appreciated even abroad, gives the name to "Fico Bianco del Cilento": once dried, the sweet peel gets light yellow coloured rather than chestnut brown if oven-cooked.
Paestum Artichoke IGP
The 90% of artichoke's production in Campania is concentrated within the province of Salerno, specially into the Plain of Sele.
San Marzano Tomato of Agro Nocerino Sarnese DOP
San Marzano is one of the most acclaimed variety of tomato, grown in the area between Salerno and Naples known as Agro Nocerino-Sarnese.
Hazelnut of Giffoni IGP
The hazelnut of Giffoni IGT, known as "Nocciola di Giffoni" belongs to one of the most precious Italian varieties: Tonda di Giffoni.
Caciocavallo Silano DOP
Caciocavallo Silano is a semi-hard cheese, made with vaccine milk, seasoned 15 days minimum.

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