San Marzano tomatoes are characterized by their intense red colour and their elongated shape, compared to other Italian varieties. They are also sweeter, fleshier, less acidic and contain fewer seeds. Our San Marzano tomatoes are packed in a particularly thick and smooth coulis, lightly seasoned with a basil leaf.
Uses
Since they are fleshy and have few seeds, San Marzano tomatoes are the ideal ingredient for any tomato-based sauce. With their subtle basil taste, they are delicious in a pizza sauce – in fact, they are the variety used in Naples, the birthplace of Italian pizza.
Distinctives attributes
To receive the San Marzano designation, tomatoes must be grown in Italy's Campania region, within one of the 41 approved municipalities, the main ones being Agro Sarnese-Nocerino, Acerrano-Nolano, Pompeiana-Stabiese and Montorese. The unique taste of San Marzano tomatoes comes from a specific terroir exclusive to the volcanic lands at the foot of the Vesuvio, blessed with a mild Mediterranean climate. The code printed on the lid provides information about the harvest: it includes a company identifier (our producer), a letter (determined by Italy's Ministry of Economic Development to indicate the year of the harvest) and a series of 3 digits representing the date of production.
Artisan
Our San Marzano tomatoes are grown by the Napoletano family, who have been producing this variety for many years. Giuseppe Napoletano founded his business with the intent of exporting the tomatoes his family grows with great pride. Thanks to his know-how, the San Marzano tomatoes are carefully selected and processed following nearly artisanal methods, with the greatest respect for tradition.
Origin
Sarno, Campania, Italy.
History and anecdotes
Agro Sarnese-Nocerino San Marzano tomatoes have been protected by a designation of origin (PDO) since 1996. For consumers, this certification is a guarantee that the tomatoes they buy were indeed grown in that region of Italy. There is unfortunately quite a bit of counterfeiting in the food industry, including in Canada, and the San Marzano tomatoes available on the market are not always produced in Italy. The PDO label granted by the European Union confirms that these are authentic Agro Sarnese-Nocerino San Marzano tomatoes.
