The pistachio is a very ancient plant, already known and cultivated by the ancient Jews, who considered it a precious fruit. The cultivation of pistachio was then increased and experimented by the Arabs, who took Sicily from the Byzantines. They found on the island, especially on the slopes of Etna, the natural habitat for a lush and peculiar development of the plant. This is how the Bronte pistachio was born, whose fame has grown enormously over the years and, consequently, so has the demand. In 2009, the Bronte pistachio obtained the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO).
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BRONTE PISTACHIO
The Bronte pistachio owes its fine and unique characteristics to its territory: the extraordinary combination of the plant and the volcanic soil, continuously fertilized by volcanic ashes, gives rise to a fruit that, in terms of taste and aroma, surpasses the rest of the world's production in quality. The most important feature of the Bronte pistachio is its chlorophyll content, higher than other types of pistachios, which gives it its intense green color. Moreover, the taste is much more pronounced, thanks to the characteristics of the soil, rich in mineral substances also due to the frequent lava flows of Etna. The Bronte Pistachio is sweet, delicate, and aromatic. It can be consumed with its natural shell (commonly called "open-mouthed") and is the first product available for sale, although it is increasingly scarce on the market due to the high labor cost: the kernels are manually selected, choosing those with the shell open at least a few millimeters, to allow the consumer to open the fruit with their nails and consume the product. In this sense, it should be consumed fresh, without roasting or salting.
CULTIVATION AND PRODUCTION The harvest takes place at the end of summer, between August and September, but only every other year: one year the harvest is carried out, the next year the buds are removed to protect the plant. The cultivation and production of pistachio are an important source of income for the people of Bronte, so much so that the Bronte pistachio is nicknamed "green gold" for its high commercial value. In Bronte, a town in the province of Catania, an infinite variety of products are produced from the processing of pistachio, such as the famous pistachio pesto for pasta dressing, pistachio ice cream, pistachio cookies, pistachio cream, pistachio chocolate, and many others.
What to visit in Bronte:
Bronte, located on the slopes of Etna, is a city that offers many tourist attractions. Below you will find some ideas on what to visit in Bronte:
Nelson Castle: built in 1374, it was restored in the 19th century and houses the Civic Museum which contains numerous works of art, including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and antique furnishings.
The Mother Church: built in the 18th century, it is an example of Baroque architecture and houses numerous works of art, including a painting by Giuseppe Sciuti and a statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
The Nebrodi Natural Park: Bronte is located at the foot of the Nebrodi mountains, a mountain range that offers many opportunities for hiking or cycling.
The Pistachio House Museum: a museum dedicated to the cultivation of the Bronte pistachio, where you can learn about cultivation techniques, the history of the Bronte pistachio, and taste some typical products based on pistachio.
The Bread Museum: a museum that tells the story of bread in Sicily, with examples of ancient bread-making tools and tasting of some local types of bread.
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Charity: a church located on the hill of San Francesco, from which you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city and the surrounding countryside.
The Anapo Valley Nature Reserve: a nature reserve that extends along the Anapo river, with many hiking trails and birdwatching routes.
There are also many interesting tourist attractions to visit around Bronte. Below you will find some ideas on what to see and visit:
The Etna Park: The highest volcano in Europe is one of the main attractions of Sicily and is located just 30 km from Bronte. Here you can go hiking, cycling, or jeep tours, visit the lava caves, and enjoy breathtaking views of the coast and surrounding countryside.
The city of Catania: Located about 40 km from Bronte, Catania is the second-largest city in Sicily and offers many cultural, historical, and artistic attractions, including the Ursino Castle, the Cathedral of Sant'Agata, and the Bellini Civic Museum.
Taormina: One of the most picturesque cities in Sicily, located about 70 km from Bronte, offers a spectacular view of the sea and the Etna volcano, along with many tourist attractions, including the Ancient Theater, the Church of San Giuseppe, and the Public Garden.
The Nebrodi Park: A nature reserve that covers over 80,000 hectares of mountains, forests, and lakes, located about 30 km from Bronte. Here you can go hiking, practice birdwatching, and enjoy breathtaking views of the mountains and coast.
The city of Messina: Located on the northeastern coast of Sicily, about 100 km from Bronte, Messina offers many tourist attractions, including the Messina Cathedral, the Neptune Fountain, and the Regional Museum of Messina.
These are just a few examples of what you can visit around Bronte. Sicily is a region rich in tourist attractions, with a variety of landscapes, cultures, and traditions that are worth exploring.
Here's the translation of the provided text into English:
Bronte's Pistachio Pesto:
Ingredients:
150 gr of Bronte DOP pistachios
2 garlic cloves
50 gr of grated pecorino cheese
50 gr of grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
100 ml of extra virgin olive oil
salt to taste
Preparation:
Toast the Bronte pistachios in the oven at 160 degrees for 5-10 minutes.
Place the toasted pistachios in a mixer with the garlic and chop finely.
Add the grated pecorino and Parmigiano Reggiano and continue to chop.
Add the extra virgin olive oil and blend until you get a smooth cream.
Add salt to taste.
Use the Bronte pistachio pesto to season pasta or as an accompaniment to meats or cheeses.
Bronte Pistachio Cookies:
Ingredients:
200 gr of flour
100 gr of Bronte DOP pistachios
100 gr of butter
100 gr of sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon of baking powder
a pinch of salt
Preparation:
1. Toast the Bronte pistachios in the oven at 160 degrees for 5-10 minutes and chop them finely.
2. In a bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. In another bowl, cream the butter with the sugar until smooth.
4. Add the egg and continue to mix.
5. Add the flour and chopped pistachios and mix well.
6. Form a dough ball and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
7. Take the dough from the fridge and shape round cookies.
8. Place the cookies on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
9. Bake the cookies in the oven at 180 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until golden.
10. Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool before serving.
Bronte Pistachio Ice Cream:
Ingredients:
500 ml of whole milk
200 gr of Bronte DOP pistachios
200 gr of sugar
6 egg yolks
250 ml of fresh cream
Preparation:
Toast the Bronte pistachios in the oven at 160 degrees for 5-10 minutes and chop them finely.
In a bowl, mix the egg yolks and sugar until light and fluffy.
In a saucepan, heat the milk until it's warm but not boiling.
Add the chopped pistachios to the milk and mix well.
Slowly pour the warm milk over the egg yolks, stirring continuously.
Return the mixture to low heat and stir continuously until it thickens slightly.
Remove from heat and let it cool completely.
Whip the fresh cream and add it to the pistachio mixture.
Mix well and pour everything into an ice cream maker.
Run the ice cream maker for about 30-40 minutes until the ice cream thickens.
Pour the ice cream into a container and freeze for at least 2 hours before serving.
These are just some of the recipes that can be created using the precious Bronte pistachio as the main ingredient. This fruit is so versatile that it can be used in many other preparations, such as cakes, puddings, tarts, and much more. If you love the unique taste of Bronte pistachio, don't hesitate to experiment with new recipes and create your own delicious dishes.
We highly recommend using Bronte DOP pistachios for homemade ice cream preparation, as their intense and aromatic flavor gives the ice cream a unique and delicious note. Furthermore, Bronte DOP pistachios have unique and valuable characteristics, including a higher chlorophyll content compared to other types of pistachios and a volcanic soil rich in mineral substances that give the fruit a taste and aroma above average. Using these high-quality pistachios, homemade ice cream will not only be tastier but also more genuine and healthy, as it will not contain preservatives or chemical additives.
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