On the tracks of the Black Pig of Calabria, a tasty and healthy foodstuff

If pork meat is your passion but you moderate your consumption to limit health risks, you should know that in Calabria there is a solution for you!

Have you ever heard of the healthy properties of the Black Pig of Calabria? That's right, this is a prized breed of pig, mainly found in certain areas of the region, whose characteristics make it a true health cure, as well as one of the tastiest pork meats of all.

Characteristics and typical uses of the Black Pig of Calabria

Known since the 19th century and even mentioned in literature - King Joachim Murat, the English writer and traveller on the Grand Tour George Gissing and the Aspromonte native Corrado Alvaro make mention of it - the prized Black Pig of Calabria, now with the PAT mark (Traditional Food Product), is a boast of Calabrian production, also sought after on the foreign market.

What is special about the Black Pig of Calabria compared to other similar breeds in Italy?

In the meantime, it is bred in a semi-wild state, allowing it to feed genuinely on fruits and acorns from the undergrowth, and to move up and down steep mountain slopes (being predominantly a high-altitude breed), keeping its meat lean and completely free of saturated fats.

These are the main reasons for the goodness of the Black Pig of Calabria, a true health food, able to naturally regulate the level of fat and cholesterol in the blood, being also an excellent source of Omega 3.

The Black Pig of Calabria is usually slaughtered when it is two years old, from October to May, then processed fresh or matured into highly-prized sausages, depending on the tastes and the ever-increasing demands of the gastronomic market. The result is a lean meat of great quality, which the "Nero di Calabria" Association protects through a specification, safeguarding small breeders and animals that a few years ago were on the verge of extinction.

The most succulent "Nero di Calabria" recipes? There is something for all tastes: from the now famous Filetto with wild berries proposed by a renowned restaurant in Castrovillari (CS), to the classic pappardelle with black pork ragout, passing by the cold meats and sausages with their sweet flavour.

Itinerary on the footsteps of the Black Pig of Calabria

Widespread with a few specimens throughout the region, the Black Pig of Calabria is found predominantly in certain areas, such as the Pollino National Park, the Sila National Park and the Aspromonte National Park.

Let's set out to discover the "Nero di Calabria" in an itinerary that combines nature, taste and health.