What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear Italy? Maybe pizza, spaghetti, ice cream? Today, in our column "Did you know that…?", we share some interesting facts about Italian cuisine.
Did you know that the infamous prosciutto delicacy was banned for export to the US until 1989.
After 1700, they started adding tomato sauce to Italian cuisine.
In the 13th century, the pope of the day set standards for pasta quality.
Did you know that there are more than 600 pasta shapes that are called pasta?
Most Italians eat pasta in some form every day. Each region in Italy is characterized by different ways of serving pasta. In Rome, for example, two of the classics you can try are carbonara (made with eggs and pancetta) and cacio e pepe (made with cheese and black pepper).
The first pizza was made in Naples in 1889 and was named "Margherita" after the then queen.
The annual consumption of pasta in Italy is 30 kg per person.
Certainly one of the best ice creamyou can try is the one in Italy. If you are planning a trip to this country, be sure to get one of the following flavors: Nocciola - hazelnut flavor, Croccantino - caramel with crunchy nuts, usually hazelnut and almond, Zabaione - egg custard, Stracciatella - vanilla with chocolate chips, Spagnola - vanilla with cherries, Fragola – with strawberry.
The famous appetizer that we take as a salad in our country, called "Caprese", made of tomatoes, mozzarella and basil, takes its name from the island of Capri, where it was first made.
In Italy you can order many different types of coffee,including Ristretto (short coffee), Lungo (longer coffee), Corretto (low alcohol), Cappuccino, macchiato and others.
The traditional pepperoni pizza is different from the one we are used to ordering. If you order one in Italy, they will bring you a vegetarian pizza with small hot peppers, while here we get a pizza with spicy salami.
In Italian cuisine corn was introduced as a product in the year 1600 and is the main ingredient of Italian polenta (a dish similar to cachamac).
Perfectly cooked pasta should be al dente, which means soft on the outside and slightly firm on the inside.
An Italian would never order a cappuccino after a meal. This coffee drink is only taken in the morning. Italians believe that milk interferes with good digestion. Therefore, if you need something to bounce back, order a nice short coffee after your meal.
Olive oil is the main fat consumed in Italy. An Italian consumes 13.5 liters of olive oil per year.
