This Italian strawberry is a favorite of the prince of Dubai: perfect to eat fresh and raw
Origin
The Tortona fragrant strawberry is a local variety from the species Fragaria Moschata. The origins of Tortona strawberries in Italy date back extremely far: as early as 1411, they were named in a register from Pieve di Garbagna among the types of local produce. In a town act from 1631, a street named Fragolaria (from the Italian fragola for strawberry) is mentioned in the area of San Rocco a Tortona church. But it’s only in the mid 14th century in the “Cronaca di Tortona” newspaper, that the descriptor ‘fragrant’ appears. At the beginning of the last century, the Tortona fragrant strawberry was sold in the markets of Alessandria, Novi, Genoa and throughout the Scrivia valley. In the 1930s, the golden age for culture, a covered market opened in Tortona called “il Gabbione.” Then, with the Second World War and new construction and motorway developments, the number fields dedicated to the production of this variety was drastically reduced, and it was soon considered at risk of extinction. Luckily in the year 2000, a Slow Food presidium was set up, but there are still only 8 fields in the world that are dedicated to this gem.
Cook It
Tortona strawberries have an intoxicating aroma, and this characteristic makes them famous in all the world – so much so that they’re greatly in demand by famous chefs and lovers of rare ingredients alike. Pisa chef Lisa Corsoni from CookLab used the Tortona fragrant strawberry in a unique recipe: preserves with vanilla and cardamom.
Similar to raspberries in color and size, Tortona strawberries are eaten on their own. But in Tortona, it’s traditional to serve them in a cup with a small spoonful of sugar, and a half glass of good Barbera wine. They are the perfect base for ice cream and sweets, which are enhanced by this fruit’s flavor profile.
Did You Know That?
These strawberries are sold in 200-gram packages, but you should eat them the same day because they perish more quickly than any other fruit–they last only up to 48 hours. Cultivators recommend eating them by the same evening that they’re picked, to best appreciate the sensory experience. Besides to Michelin star chefs, farmers of Tortona fragrant strawberries sell their product to the prince of Dubai each year, who loves them so much that he sends a private jet with dry ice to help preserve the fruit during the journey. Tortona fragrant strawberries are only on the market for about two weeks a year, from mid to late June.