Facts About Food

If you’ve ever wondered what is DOP certified food, then you’ve stumbled on the right article. Here’s what DOP means. The acronym PDO stands for ‘Protected Designation of Origin’, called in Italian DOP (Denominazione di Origine Protetta). When you see a food labeled PDO or DOP, you know it is has been certified within an […]

If you’re wondering what IGP certified labels on your Italian food mean, here’s a brief explanation. ‘Protected Geography Indication’ (PGI), called Indicazione Geografica Protetta (IGP) is a European quality certification, similar to PDO or DOP, which ensures that only products from a specific geographical area can use that area’s name. What makes PGI/IGP different from […]

Sabina Extra Virgin Olive Oil was an Italian staple nearly 2000 years ago. And still remains a favorite in Lazio.Here’s why. A Brief History of Sabina Olive Oil It may sound a cliché but little has changed in terms of olive farming in Sabina (just north of Rome) since the ancient world. Renowned since antiquity, […]

The process Malvasia grapes go through to make Vin Santo dessert wine is absolutely gorgeous! These are some photos from Italy Food Root’s trip to a Tuscan vin santinaia where the Malvasia grapes are laid out by hand to appassire (dry out) on bamboo trays to dry for 1 whole year. The grapes are handled […]

Here is a brief explanation of what PAT certified labels mean in Italy. It’s probably a good idea to read what a DOP certified and IGP certified product is so you can compare! “Prodotti Alimentari Tradizionali”, abbreviated to PAT, is the Italian version of the pan European PGI or IGP scheme of quality certification for […]