Here are the new international Presidia

Everything is ready to welcome newcomers into the great family of the Presidium, the project of Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity in 2003 that protects and promotes the products at risk of extinction by working with over 13,000 farmers and artisans in more than 50 countries. With economic, environmental, social and cultural rights, this ambitious initiative has helped to protect more than 400 reality in every corner of the planet. Here we discover the innovations that make their debut at the Oval in the heart of the international market of the Salone del Gusto and Terra Madre, starting from our Europe.

It is in Belgium, in fact, that we taste the syrup craftsmanship of the Pays de Herve and Hesbaye, the pride of this land, which hides centuries of history. Unfortunately, few people know the difference between industrial and artisanal syrup, made exclusively with local varieties of apples and pears with no added sugar, and for this reason the Presidium includes the only four families who still create this drink, handing down from generation to generation, not only the recipe and the production technique, but also the use of special varieties of fruit now at risk of extinction.

We move then to France, where cider toast with the beret, slightly sour and very refreshing, this has always been on the boards. The apples used, all local, give the cider very high acidity, which distinguishes it from that of Normandy and Asturias. Stationary, pearly or slightly fizzy, it can have an alcohol content of between 5 and 11 degrees. The Presidio works with Sagartzea, the cooperative of producers who cultivate local varieties of apples suitable for its production.

Landing in Africa, we are greeted by honey bees Ogiek. We are in the Mau Forest in Kenya, the only place where they still live bees, important source of income for the indigenous community of Mariashoni. Their favorite is the nectar of the dobeya, whose flower honey gives a characteristic whitish-gray color and a unique flavor. The honey is still obtained from traditional hives: large cylinders in red cedar hanging on the trees.

Also known as the Fortunate Islands, are the Quirimbas archipelago north of Mozambique. Ibo, with little more than 400 inhabitants, is one of the main islands, living mainly from fishing. The island is also cultivates a variety of coffee that has adapted to the climate of the country and still grows in the wild, although each family cultivates some seedling in your garden. Appreciated in particular for the low caffeine content, coffee cup in Ibo develops an intense aroma of bay leaves, mint, eucalyptus and licorice that makes it unique. The Presidio is intended to preserve a unique ecosystem in the world where coffee Ibo is an important income supplement for fishermen, reducing pressure on marine resources and preserving the balance of the Quirimbas National Park.

Koreans are the two Presidia this year represent the Asia event in Turin. The soybean paste traditional Jeju, typical of the south-western coast of South Korea, is a fundamental seasoning all over the country: it is used to flavor vegetables, meat, fish and soups, and has interesting nutritional characteristics: in times poorer in fact, he survived by eating only rice seasoned with this pasta. One produced on the island of Jeju has unique characteristics and a unique taste, sweet and sour and intense, given by this local variety of soy and the use of a particular yeast, the nuruk.

Typical Korean fermented tea, tea Don has a long tradition. It is said that its use has deep roots in the spread of Buddhism from China. The name Don, however, comes from the Korean word that indicates the form of a coin of brass, round and flat with a hole in the middle. The spread of Japanese tea and coffee have undermined the traditional Korean culture linked to this drink, putting at risk the survival. One last thing: Don tea is used in particular for its medical capabilities: it is considered effective to improve eyesight, promote detoxification and lower fever.

And now in Latin America. In the Argentine plains of the Gran Chaco, carob trees white, and chañar mistol, since the pre-Columbian era, are part of the food culture of the indigenous peoples, as well as a symbol of magnificence. The fruits are used for tasty meal, traditional food and medicinal purposes. However, contact with European populations has caused the loss of many traditional eating habits and today these wild fruits of the Gran Chaco are threatened by extinction and deforestation. The Presidio is a collaboration with the Fundación Gran Chaco and the Cooperativa de Mujeres Artesanas the Gran Chaco, with the aim to combat the abandonment of the land and the impoverishment supply the local population.

We conclude our tour of the world in Colombia, where we say goodbye in the company of black crab of Providencia, a small island located in the Caribbean Sea declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2010 Here there are millions of examples of black crab, a crustacean endemic that lives in dry forest typical of the island and that is the emblem of the local cuisine. The residents of Providencia, descendants of African slaves and British sailors, the crab catch in hand of the night and turn it into the next day at their homes, by boiling and separating the various parts, then used as a base for soups and dishes, or sold in the neighboring island of San Andrés.La challenge of the Presidium is to support environmental sustainability policies in search of alternative sources of income for the collectors: from fishing to tourism, from the collection of wild herbs to gastronomy.

But do not stop here, this is just a taste of the new international Presidia at the Salone del Gusto and Terra Madre.