Tag: yummy

SMAF Ltd Dairy: Provola!

20.5.2022

We proudly present our line of Authentic Calabrian Dairy: SMAF Ltd selection.

All SMAF Dairy is generally produced throughout Southern Italy, over the wide area of Apennine Mountains, but only in Calabria local lassic Dairy Products are a must of Mediterranean Cuisine.

First starring of our production is CACIOCAVALLO, a type of stretched-curd cheese made out of sheep’s or cow’s milk.

Among different types of Caciocavallo, we sell the Fresh Version: PROVOLA.

Two kind:

  • Fresh provola
  • Smoked provola

While Caciocavallo is generally produced throughout Southern Italy, over the wide area of Apennine Mountains and of the Gargano peninsula, only Calabrian Provola is shaped like a tear-drop, very similar in taste to the aged Southern Italian Provolone cheese, with a soft edible rind.

Fresh Provola

Many different types of PROVOLA exist in Italy and several are recognized as P.A.T. (“Prodotto agroalimentare tradizionale”, traditional regional food product), but only Provola Silana has the better Protected geographical status (PDO).

This cheese is made with cow’s milk in designated areas of Southern Italy, in the regions of Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Molise and Puglia and gained protected geographical status, since 1993.

Our selection of fresh Provola

THE TRADITIOF OF A DELICIOUS CHEESE

Maybe, the term “Provola” derives from the word “Pruvatura” or “Pruvula” which was the cheese made to taste the priests conducting a religious procession to a monastery (in Italian to taste is translated by the verb “provare”).

SMAF LTD

Explore our products, coming from CALABRIA. Order the food and beverage products that allow you to explore the Mediterranean diet of a remarkable region. Surrounded by two seas and adorned with pine forests, mysterious villages, natural habitats, and rich biodiversity. Discover handcrafted delicacies that embody the soul of the land: sun-ripened fruits, premium olive oils, bold wines, artisanal cheeses, and traditional cured meats, all crafted with passion and authenticity.

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However, someone tells that the etymology is Greek. The ancient Greek provolà (Attic προβολή, Doric προβολά) generically indicated all those things that protrude. Therefore, the typical protuberance of the cheese “provola” is maybe related to the classic word. At the same time, it recalls the clearly Greek origin of such delicious cheese.

Smoked dairy: smoked provola

OUR ROLE

SMAF LTD is a supplier and has vision and mission as Society for Authentic Mediterranean Food (S.M.A.F.). Therefore, SMAF LTD deals with all the cheeses labelled in Calabrian DOPs, first of all the classic Dairy Products, mentioned above, including the sweet or seasoned Calabrian Pecorino cheese of Mount Poro, and the Crotonese Pecorino cheese, pure sheep cheese with a 4 month seasoning and a spicy flavour.

Caciocavallo

But above all, the Aspromonte Caciocavallo produced with whole-cow milk with a savoury and spicy flavour with a two month seasoning.

The Oranges of “San Giuseppe”

26.04.2022

Calabrian citrus fruits stand out from the others for their excellent organoleptic characteristics; for these reasons they are well known and highly appreciated not only in Italy but also abroad.

Among the oranges grown in Calabria we certainly remember the late growing orange Biondo di Trebisacce, which flourishes in the vicinity of the homonymous municipality of the Upper Ionian Cosentino between the sea and the Pollino mountains.

In the wake of the latter we also find another cultivar that is born much further south of Trebisacce and that certainly deserves a place of honor.

San Giuseppe Oranges

Let’s talk about the San Giuseppe Orange. Like the Biondo di Trebisacce, the San Giuseppe Orange is also a niche on the market. It is grown at about 350 meters above sea level, in the pre -mountain belt of the Aspromonte between the Gallico and Catona rivers, and takes its name from the hamlet of the municipality of Reggio Calabria, Villa San Giuseppe.

The San Giuseppe Orange, present in the Belladonna and Biondo Tardivo varieties, has been produced for some years by any local companies and, afterwards, included in the Ark of Taste of the Slow Food Foundation for biodiversity.

The plant is of medium vigor and expanded foliage, round in shape, not very dense. The leaves are elliptical, of an intense green color, with a slightly rounded apex. Belonging to the species of orange Citrus sinensis , this orange has an ovoid (or sub-ovoid) shape with a skin of medium thickness and an intense orange color.

San Giuseppe orange trees

It weighs about 200 gr. The taste is sweet (mostly between May and June), its blond pulp is rich in juice and is seedless, or it has very few (usually 1 to three).

It has a good concentration of vitamin C, fiber, mineral salts and for this reason it is recommended to eat it fresh or squeezed; it is used extensively to produce juices, jams, honey and candied peel.

The first fruits begin to have in the months of February-March and, as in the case of the Biondo di Trebisacce, they last until June.

SMAF LTD

Explore our products, coming from CALABRIA. Order the food and beverage products that allow you to explore the Mediterranean diet of a remarkable region. Surrounded by two seas and adorned with pine forests, mysterious villages, natural habitats, and rich biodiversity. Discover handcrafted delicacies that embody the soul of the land: sun-ripened fruits, premium olive oils, bold wines, artisanal cheeses, and traditional cured meats, all crafted with passion and authenticity.

contact us, your supplier

Locally called ‘u purtuallu longu”, according to studies, the first attestations of the San Giuseppe Orange date back to the end of the 19th century.

They were in fact the most sought after on the market due to their large fruits, with few seeds and strong bark; they resisted long browsing in everyone’s preference and always pay 1 or 12 pugs more than those of other sites.

Orange wedges

In fact, the stories of the locals show that the sale of the oranges of San Giuseppe was very profitable and supported the economy of this area.

They are also called ‘oranges of the tsar’ because they were even exported to Russia, beloved by the courts of the tsars and notables until the period of the October Revolution in the early decades of the 20th century.

The San Giuseppe Orange is usually seedless. For the first time in 2019 the ‘Feast of the Orange of San Giuseppe’ took place which was a great success.

The hope is that after the restrictions due to the health emergency from Covid-19, this holiday can be a fixed appointment to pay homage to this important and special Calabrian citrus fruit.

Orange slices

The San Giuseppe Orange has also been included by the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies in the list of Agri-food Products of Calabria tradition (PAT).

Another excellence of Calabria to taste…