Discovering Aspromonte through its flavours
Ready to set off on a journey to the center of Calabria's most arcane mountain?
Discovering Aspromonte through the flavors and scents of its woods, its peaks and its valleys crossed by ancient rivers is an authentic taste experience.
The Aspromonte National Park, in the province of Reggio Calabria, is a natural area of great charm, characterized by its own geology. The Valle delle Grandi Pietre, for example, is a unicum of the southern Apennines, with its giant monoliths listed as UNESCO World Heritage Geosites.
In the mountain villages it is possible to taste the strong flavors of a cuisine that preserves its tradition intact, even also many gourmet recipes.
Traditions and flavors of Aspromonte
The typical products of Aspromonte are a riot of meats, cheeses, and excellent wines.
Ingredients of a poor cuisine, which combines them with legumes and vegetables, but also with the excellence of Calabrian food and wine.
The steep peaks and valleys of the Aspromontano massif are the ideal habitat for two autochthonous species from which meat and dairy products of first choice are realized: the famous PAT Black Pork of Calabria (Traditional Agri-Food Product) and the tasty Caprino d'Aspromonte PAT (goat cheese).
The first belongs to a breed raised in the semi-wild state. Known since the time of King Joachim Murat as the "Neri di Calabria", these semi-savage pigs resemble wild boars more than pigs, while they are distinguished from both by the extraordinary leanness of the meats, low in saturated fat and recommended in the integration of the Mediterranean Diet.
The second, Slow Food-branded Caprino d'Aspromonte, is an aromatic cheese made by adding kid rennet. The curd is transferred to rush baskets, where it is pressed manually; this is followed by salting and curing on a shelf of reeds (cannizzo) or wood, in a cool place. The taste is unmistakably sweet and sour, with a wild note.
Visiting the Aspromonte National Park
The best way to enjoy the flavors of Aspromonte is to leave for a loop excursion (which opens and closes in Reggio Calabria) along the park's trails (Sentiero del Brigante, Sentiero dell’Inglese, Sentiero Italia CAI) and the numerous Visitor Centers, until you reach the highest peak of Montalto (1956 m).