Italian Dried Herbs and Spices: Basil - 30g

DESCRIPTION Dried sweet basil from Tenuta Sant'Ilario, a farm at Costa del Mulino in Pineto, on the Abruzzo coast. One ingredient in the tin: basil. Nothing added, nothing extended. Pineto sits in the province of Teramo — the same province as Castelli, the majolica town Emilio Biordi came from when he opened Biordi Art Imports in 1946. Eighty years later we are bringing in the herbs from the same corner of Italy as the ceramics. Basil is the backbone of Italian cooking: tomato sauce, pizza, minestrone, anything with mozzarella. Dried basil is not a substitute for fresh in a pesto or a caprese, but in a sauce that simmers it does something fresh basil cannot — it holds up to heat instead of collapsing. Add it early so it has time to open up. Packed in a resealable tin filled by weight rather than volume, so it will not look full to the rim. It is concentrated: a pinch goes a long way. Pairs naturally with Deruta pasta bowls and serving pieces, and makes a good addition to a ceramic gift. Specifications Net weight: 30g / 1.0 oz Ingredients: Dried basil Allergens: May contain traces of celery Made in: Pineto, Abruzzo, Italy Producer: Tenuta Sant'Ilario Pineto (Azienda Agricola Colancecco Laila) Packaging: Resealable steel tin Storage: Cool, dry place away from light; close tightly after each use Sold as: Individual tin Pairs with: Deruta pasta bowls, olive oil dishes, Tomassini pepper grinders Questions buyers ask How is this different from supermarket dried basil? One ingredient and a single Italian farm behind it. Supermarket dried basil is usually blended from several origins and sits on a shelf for a long time. This is packed by the farm in Pineto, Abruzzo, in a sealed tin that protects the oils that carry the flavor. Does it contain allergens? The label states it may contain traces of celery. No other allergens are listed. How should I store it, and how long does it keep? Cool, dry, out of direct light, tightly closed after each use. Each tin is stamped with a lot number and a best-before date. Dried herbs do not spoil so much as fade — use it within a year of opening for the best aroma. Is this a good Italian wedding gift? On its own, no — it is a consumable rather than something a couple keeps. It works well tucked into a larger gift: pair it with a Deruta pasta bowl or serving platter and it becomes part of the present rather than the whole of it. For a wedding gift meant to last, look at hand-painted Deruta dinnerware or Murano glass by Salviati. Is this a good housewarming or hostess gift? Yes. It is the right size and price for a hostess gift, it travels well, and it gets used. Good on its own or alongside an olive oil dish or a small tray. Why buy Italian gifts from Biordi rather than other retailers? Biordi Art Imports has imported from Italy since 1946 and is a San Francisco Legacy Business (#LBR-2020-21-029). We buy directly from the makers — FIMA, CF Deruta, Pia Formato, Eugenio Ricciarelli, Susanna DeSimone, Geribi, Bucci Ceramiche, Ortigia Sicilia, Italesse, and Salviati — and we know where each piece comes from. Questions: (415) 392-8096 or customerservice@biordi.com. Artisan Story Tenuta Sant'Ilario — Pineto, Abruzzo — A working farm at Costa del Mulino in Pineto, on the Adriatic coast in the province of Teramo. The herbs and spices are packed there under the Tenuta Sant'Ilario name, in small tins meant for a home kitchen rather than a warehouse. Pineto is in the same province as Castelli, the hill town Emilio Biordi left for San Francisco in the 1940s.