“No race can prosper till it learns that there is as much dignity in tilling a field as in writing a poem.”
Booker Taliaferro Washington
Spezzano Albanese is a delightful small town at the foot of San Salvatore hill, from which the whole town can be admired. It is a landscape which recalls the characteristics of the Mediterranean basin. In this small town in the province of Cosenza, while the hunger and misery from the first world war loomed over the afflicted population, Vincenzo Barbati and his father manually mowed the reed bed. The land had been uncultivated for years and in 1919, after about a month of hard work, the first olive trees could finally be planted naturally.
Francesco’s perseverance and the family business
Over the years the Barbati family built their first oil mill, bought a tractor, a trailer and perfected the business that today continues to bring their unique product to the world. In light of the experience gained, Vincenzo’s grandson Francesco founded, on 15 April, 2015, the Barbati Francesco Azienda Agricola. And in 2017, the company finally obtained PGI recognition for their Tondina Spezzanese extra virgin olive oil.
This town’s declining beauty was once again brought to life thanks to this small family’s hard work and who, after many sacrifices, continues the fight to promote the region of Calabria. “The company was built with the aim of contributing to the wellbeing of both the community and the environment by growing olives naturally”, explains Francesco Barbati.
Food Experiences
The properties of natural Spezzanese oil
Barbati’s extra virgin olive oil is unique because it is natural. It is extracted solely from Tondina Spezzanese olives, which are rich in oleocanthal; the polyphenol responsible for the oil’s strong taste.
Polyphenols are natural antioxidants that help counteract free radicals, and therefore prevent premature cell aging and cancer. They also have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. In 2014, Prof. V. Longo showed that a diet similar to that of the centenarians of Molochio, in Reggio Calabria, based on the Mediterranean diet – or otherwise low in protein – reduces the incidence of tumors and promotes longevity.
Barbati extra virgin olive oil is not only beneficial to our health, but also contributes to the protection of the environment. This is because the olive tree, being an evergreen plant, reduces the presence of CO2 in the atmosphere and preserves biodiversity.
What differentiates this oil is its herbal aroma and its overwhelmingly complex taste. From the humble bruschetta to the most complex recipes, Barbati oil harmoniously mixes itself with other