Product: Rustic flavor and Mediterranean soul, handcrafted and jarred in oil. The red, plump flesh of the elongated tomatoes grown in Puglia and hand-picked in midsummer preserves all of its flavor and organoleptic properties thanks to natural drying on racks outdoors. The tomatoes remain in the sun for 4-5 days, after being individually cut and salted by hand.
Time is a measure of the patient labor required for each jar: 130 hours of processing and 10kg of fresh produce are needed to produce 1kg of sun-dried elongated tomatoes. The seasoning, with capers, garlic, and a hint of spiciness, enhances their rustic flavor. Delicious raw, they'll also amaze you when sautéed in a first course.
Producer: I Contadini
Region: Lecce, Puglia
Size: 230g
Producer Info: The "I Contadini" farm is a third generation family business based in the Puglia region of Italy. Puglia is known for its excellent growing climate for all sorts of grains, olive trees and vegetables. I Contadini utilises this optimal climate to grow wonderfully flavorful vegetables for their preserves and spreads, made with their grandparents' recipes. Simply translated, 'I Contadini' is Italian for 'the farmers' or 'the peasants.' The farmers' lives exist within 30 hectares of land where they grow a variety of vegetables on the open field, including peppers, eggplant, artichokes, olives, and tomatoes. The company operates all aspects of the business: growing the produce, naturally drying vegetables in the hot Italian sun, and preparing the jars for retail. The drying of the vegetables in the sun is an ancient practice and now almost totally abandoned. This is a shame as the delicate practice delivers a totally unique result in the produce: perfect aromas, aesthetic appearance, and texture coupled with the conservation of essential vitamins, proteins, and minerals.
